THE TEMPLE OF UNDERSTANDING’S
SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
A Four-Week Intensive Internship for Students Ages 18-23
June 27 – July 24, 2024
The internship program began with a comprehensive orientation on June 27, where interns were introduced to each other and essential information about the organization.
The day included a session on youth perspectives regarding climate and conflict and featured speakers Alison Van Dyk and Darcy Neill from TOU. This was a great way to introduce new interns to one of the important events of TOU, Eco Justice For All. This dialogue examined the significant impact of war on the environment, emphasizing the destruction and lasting ecological harm resulting from these conflicts. Youth panelists offered their insights and personal stories from Ukraine, Kenya, Sudan, and Palestine. The discussion also covered corruption as both a catalyst and a cause of climate and conflict issues, the role of fossil fuels in perpetuating wars, and the critical need to incorporate environmental protection into conflict resolution and international law.
The interns also worked in small groups on TOU projects, shared their work, and received tips from former interns.
On June 28, the orientation continued with community-building activities led by Associate Directors, an overview of the UN and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and a session with Bruce Knotts. The day also included a UN tour, a session with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), and activities focused on UN networking.
During the first week of activities, on July 1, interns participated in a community-building workshop led by Stuart Gelles after a morning meeting and distribution of grounds passes. Stuart Gelles has been a speaker for the internship program almost every year in the past, bringing in a community-building activity that helps interns discover their inter- and intra-personal skills. Each year, interns have mentioned that this has been a great bonding experience and helped them think about their presentations.
On July 2, they listened to a speaker on space, Mr. Ünüvar, and visited the UNFPA. They also heard from a speaker from the International Rescue Committee and took a UN tour led by Directors. The day concluded with a UN meeting of their choice.
On July 3, interns visited the Gurudwara in Glen Cove, NY, where they learned about the religious site and had lunch. One of the priests (Guru) at the Gurdwara along with a member of the Sikh faith explained to the interns the values and traditions of the sikh religion in an interactive and engaging session which included a rich welcome breakfast and lunch, called Langar. The interns met at Penn Station, took the train to Glen Cove, and spent the day at the temple before returning to NYC in the afternoon. The Gurudwara is called the Glen Cove’s Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur in Glen Cove, New York in Nassau County on Long Island.
The program observed the July 4 holiday, with the UN closed and no scheduled activities. Similarly, on July 5, the Church Center was closed, and there were no meetings at the UN, resulting in no program for the day.
The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) activities began on July 8, with a morning meeting in Office 3E, an introduction to the HLPF, and discussions on ongoing projects. Interns attended UN meetings of their choice, participated in side events, and continued to engage in community-building activities and project work. The first week of HLPF also included a service activity at Part of the Solution, where interns helped pack vegetables and other produce to be distributed at the center. They were introduced to the workings of the center, the challenges and the importance of such centers to uphold human dignity. Throughout the following days, interns attended various UN meetings and side events, engaged in project meetings, and heard from speakers like Johanna Friman, an intern from 2019 and Carol Bellamy.
They also visited the Won Buddhist Temple, and continued their service activities, such as the park clean-up at Randall’s Island, teaching students about the TOU and UN and attended an engaging session with a practical simulation on negotiation at the Mission of Japan.
TOU, along with Peace Boat, also organized a side event attended by friends and other interns at the UN! This side event included the work of TOU and the Peace Boat, led by our interns.
Finally, the internship concluded with presentations from interns on diverse topics. Friends, board members, and other guests joined us for our last two days.
The program emphasized a blend of educational, service-oriented, and community-building activities, ensuring a well-rounded experience for the interns.
Meet the Interns!
Bruce Yu Lepeng
Hi! I’m Bruce Yu Lepeng from Singapore. I was born in Beijing and studied in the United States when I was younger.
Over the last three years, I conducted AI and healthcare research aimed at reducing healthcare inequality and started a small startup to assist refugees.
At 19 years old, I’m currently in my gap year before college and eager to gain more experience in the humanitarian field.
Through this program, I hope to gain an understanding of the operations of various UN organizations, missions, and NGOs. I look forward to learning more about issues related to human rights and refugees.
Alex Harrison
Hi! My name is Alex Harrison. I am 18 years old, and I am a sixth-form student at St. Alban’s Catholic High School in Ipswich, UK.
Religious studies has always been one of my passions, as I believe the understanding of a person’s individual perspective to be essential in terms of working towards a better future. For this reason, I am really excited to be working with the TOU and helping to drive their interfaith education initiatives, which help to further the human rights’ causes set out by the United Nations.
Having the opportunity to work for an organisation that promotes peace and justice for all throughout all that they do is a dream come true and truly aligns with my own faith and values.
Anudari
Hi! My name is Anudari. I am a 21-year-old from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Growing up in a developing country, I have witnessed the importance of diplomacy, international cooperation, and the role nonprofits play in providing assistance to the most vulnerable populations. Realizing the needs of my community, I am excited to participate in the Temple of Understanding Internship program with a deep passion for learning.
I love working on projects and initiatives that are immediately meaningful and directly impactful to others’ lives. Thus, I am excited to volunteer at organizations and help diverse communities around New York City. Through interacting with people from different faiths and backgrounds, I hope to extend my understanding of inclusivity, integrity, purpose, and peace. Moreover, this experience would allow me to contextualize the implementation and importance of the UN’s work.
Gabriela Linhares
Hi! My name is Gabriela Linhares, and I am from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I am currently a senior at the British School Rio de Janeiro and am very excited to explore sustainable development in Latin America and women’s positions in the workplace in developing countries while in New York.
Through my experiences founding a charity focused on the education of refugees, I have learned how important multiculturalism is and how our lives are affected by the environment in which we grow up.
Through the TOU internship, I hope to widen my knowledge and apply it to my future work as I plan on working in film production, highlighting communities and stories that are not typically heard.
Maren Dunn
My name is Maren Dunn, and I am a 22-year-old rising Senior at Tufts University, majoring in International Relations with a French Minor.
I was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and have always been interested in politics and government, both internationally and locally. I am really excited to be interning with the Temple of Understanding this summer.
I hope to gain valuable insights into the day-to-day structure of the UN, as well as learn more about the various causes and issues the UN is working on each day. The areas that I am most interested in include International Diplomacy, the refugee crisis, and climate change.
Ladia Khaing
Hi everyone! I am Ladia Khaing, and I am from Mandalay, Myanmar. I am 18 years old, and I am a rising high school senior in Boston, MA.
My interest mainly lies in pluralism and enhancing interfaith dialogues among different faith communities.
My experience growing up was that communities were very segregated based on religion and ethnicity, so I hope to bridge that gap by promoting interfaith education and engagement.
I am also interested in driving change through public policy, so I am excited about the opportunities to make various connections and participate in hands-on learning at the UN.
Elizabeth
My name is Elizabeth. I came to New York from Ukraine for studies last year.
My primary interests in international politics are the regulation of lethal weapons, the organization of peacekeeping operations, and war prevention and containment.
In regards to lethal weapons, I am especially interested in the installment of regulations for chemical and other potentially forbidden weapons with the outlook for both ecological and humanitarian implications.
Amelie Längst
Hi! My name is Amelie Längst, and I am a rising medical student from Munich, Germany. After completing an internship at Georgetown’s O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law focusing on hepatitis legislation in the United States, I became increasingly interested in the political aspect of medicine — global health care policies and the entwinement of the social and economic background with medical outcomes.
With the ongoing problem of global warming, global healthcare initiatives are only becoming increasingly paramount.
I am extremely grateful for the chance to learn more about the work of the WHO and the UN as a whole and the role they play in protecting people around the world. Looking forward to this summer!
Tyler Zhang
Hi! I am Tyler Zhang. I am 18 years old, and I’m from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I am an incoming first year at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and I plan to study Mathematics/Economics and Data Science.
You can often find me playing basketball with friends, creating fun YouTube videos, taking street photography, and reading philosophy. I love to keep up with the economic world and, in particular, how different countries’ economies and people react to different stimuli, such as a financial collapse or international conflict. With every country having different values, I find it fascinating how they all navigate these challenges while also looking to maintain international collaboration.
At the Temple of Understanding, I am interested in focusing on issues related to religiosity in relation to how that affects a country’s economic process and sustainable economic development despite changing global power through the use of currency.
Yutian Sun
Hi! My name is Yutian Sun, and I am 19 years old from Zibo, China. I just graduated from Doane Academy (NJ), and am a rising freshman at Reed College.
My love for the ocean drove me to be part of the TOU summer internship. I am a sailor, rower, hiker, and professional scuba diver. Through my scuba diving experience, I had the chance to see changes that happened within one group of coral communities throughout one year.
I am also curious about how people’s backgrounds impact their living conditions. These areas of focus have led me to the topic of ecological justice.
This summer, I hope to deep dive into the subject of ecological justice and learn how people can advocate for developing a better understanding of ecological justice.
Kelsey Yichen Ma
I am Kelsey Yichen Ma from China. I am currently studying in Boston. I am a Political Science enthusiast and hope to learn from you all.
Khushi
Hi, my name is Khushi, and I was born and raised in Bombay, India. I am currently pursuing my undergraduate studies at McGill University, where I am double majoring in Political Science and International Development with a minor in South Asian Studies.
My academic interests lie in the diplomatic relations that states share with India. In addition to my academic pursuits, I am committed to shedding light on the caste discrimination that has been deeply ingrained in Indian society.
I hope to raise awareness and advocate for meaningful change in this area. I believe that understanding and addressing social inequalities is crucial for the development of a more just and equitable society.
I aim to use my time at McGill and my involvement with the TOU, an organization for understanding, as a platform to build meaningful connections with like-minded individuals and organizations!