THE TEMPLE OF UNDERSTANDING’S
SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Hi! My name is Aditi Shekar. I am 21 years old, of Indian nationality, and was raised in Muscat, Oman. I am currently studying International Development and Political Science at McGill University in Montréal.

I’m passionate about the intersections of gender justice, environmental sustainability, and human rights, issues that are both personal and central to the mission of the Temple of Understanding. I’m especially interested in how global policy, interfaith dialogue, and cross-cultural collaboration can shape more equitable systems. Having lived in three countries, I have come to value empathy, nuance, and cultural fluency in both advocacy and diplomacy.

At the UN, I hope to engage with policy conversations that center marginalized voices and drive meaningful change. Outside of academics, I’m a trained classical dancer, singer, and visual artist. These creative practices have further taught me the power of expression across boundaries. I’m so grateful to be a part of this internship and am excited to contribute, learn, and grow this summer!

Hi! I am Arunabh Chakravorty. I grew up in the vibrant city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and for the past year and a half, I have called the quiet mountains of Karuizawa, Japan home as a student at UWC ISAK Japan. Living between these two very different places has opened my eyes to the beauty of diverse perspectives and the need for real conversations across cultures, faiths, and values.

That’s why I feel deeply connected to the mission of the Temple of Understanding — especially its work around interfaith dialogue, ecological justice, and inclusive education. My journey so far, from organizing talks about conflicts between countries in the Peace Forum to teaching girls in Afghanistan, has taught me that change begins when we listen to one another with empathy and act with intention.

I’m excited to learn how the UN brings people together to solve global challenges and to be part of that work, one step and one story at a time.

Hi! My name is Giulia, and I am from Milan, Italy. I am 19 and pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in International Politics and Government at Bocconi University. I’m an advocate for women’s rights and passionate about humanitarian issues. As I’m also keen on economics and policy analysis, I’m curious to explore how diplomacy and quantitative sciences intersect within international organisations. 

I believe that intercultural and interfaith communication are key to establishing strong, peaceful relations worldwide. Throughout my time with the Temple of Understanding, I aim to explore how youth advocacy can help shape a safer future and to learn about policies for intersectional gender equality. I’m eager to see how we can celebrate our differences and use them as a tool for equitable change, rather than see them as an obstacle. 

Hello, I am Henry Hatridge. I am 19 and from Seoul, South Korea. I am currently a freshman at the University of California, Irvine, where I am studying political science and international studies. My hobbies are basketball, soccer, Clash Royale, and debate. From a young age, I have always been very interested in geopolitical issues, specifically those that reflect deeper legacies of colonialism and economic injustice. 

Temple of Understanding’s mission, specifically in food sovereignty and social justice, aligns very well with my core beliefs. I hope to contribute by engaging in meaningful dialogue, conducting research, and learning from fellow students and experts working within the UN system. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the work of the UN and get my foot in the door of international diplomacy.

My name is Justin, I’m 20 years old, and I’m from Seoul, Korea, though I was born in Houston, Texas and spent part of my childhood in India. I am currently a rising senior at Williams College, double majoring in Philosophy and English. 

My first encounter with a global issue came in middle school when I participated in the 30-Hour Famine, a World Vision initiative. While the initiative only required fasting from food, I challenged myself by fasting from both food and water, hoping to better understand the suffering of those without basic necessities. During the famine, I learned that nearly 7,000 children die from hunger-related causes every 30 hours. That experience opened my eyes to the urgency of global water insecurity, an essential yet often overlooked issue. 

More recently, I interned at the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, where I explored the challenges of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. I learned how nuclear weapons development often occurs on Indigenous land, disproportionately harming marginalized communities. Through this internship at TOU, I hope to deepen my understanding and discover how I can meaningfully contribute.

My name is Kathleen, or Katie for short, Spillane. I am 21 years old, and I am from Westchester, New York. I went to high school in Manhattan and currently go to Boston College.

I have gone to Catholic school nearly all my life, which has left a deep impression on my view of religion. This education is the reason why I not only love to learn about religion, but also understand how it interacts with the world.

As a political science major, I have spent most of my time in college discussing peace within politics and how to achieve it. I believe both the UN and the Temple of Understanding have unique insight into this question.

I hope to leave this internship with hope for a more peaceful world and an understanding of what action I can take. I love international politics and am excited to experience it in real time through this internship!

Hi, I’m Lara Savini! I am 22 years old and from Rome, Italy. As a dynamic and motivated fast learner, I’m passionate about humanitarian policy and gender equality, and my dream is to make a tangible impact for others. I’m thrilled to join the Temple of Understanding’s community and to connect with all the fellow interns and mentors!

My passion stems from a deep commitment to human rights and sustainable development, honed through various experiences. For instance, as a Program Assistant at UNESCO HQ Paris, I actively supported youth empowerment initiatives, including organizing a “Global Master Class Against Racism and Discrimination.” I also volunteered for UNICEF, raising funds and awareness for children in humanitarian crises, and I served as a Gender Equality Youth Ambassador for the Women’s Global Forum. These experiences, along with my internship at the Embassy of Mexico where I helped organize events against violence and female genital mutilation, have solidified my dedication to social change.

I have always been fascinated by how different fields intersect with global challenges, and I hope to combine my interests and experience to contribute to a better world. My trilingual fluency in English, French, and Spanish, combined with strong communication and intercultural skills, aligns perfectly with the Temple of Understanding’s focus on diversity, human rights advocacy, and youth leadership. I believe that reducing inequalities is fundamental to building a peaceful society, and I am particularly passionate about empowering women and girls globally.

Hi! My name is Matthew Li. I am 18 years old and currently a rising senior at Milton Academy in Boston.

Over the past few years, I have grown especially interested in how interfaith understanding and environmental sustainability intersect with each other. My research into Thomas Merton, a Catholic monk who connected deeply with Buddhism, first introduced me to the possibilities of dialogue across religious and cultural boundaries. At the same time, I have been traveling to Tibet each summer since 2020, where I document environmental changes, such as glacier degradation, through photography. These experiences have taught me how deeply faith, justice, and ecology are linked.

I am drawn to the Temple of Understanding’s work in Interfaith Education and Ecological Justice, but I am also very excited to learn more about the many different areas TOU and the UN are involved in and to grow alongside this diverse community of interns.

Hi! My name is Neus, and I am from Valencia, Spain. I’m 20 years old. While I am from a western country, I have been connected to other cultures since I was born. My parents run an NGO with projects both in Valencia and in Senegal, where we go every year. So, my upbringing and my current life are deeply related to volunteering, human rights advocacy, fostering kids, traveling, and comprehending difficult issues with a humanitarian perspective, such as immigration and poverty. I realised long ago that my passion is international politics and volunteering, but overall my passion is the relations between countries and understanding other cultures.

So, all of this has brought me to the Temple of Understanding program, an NGO that completely follows the values I have. Since I saw the programme, I knew it was made for me. Throughout the month in NYC, I aim to learn more about interfaith education, multiculturalism, religions, and ways to understand the world.

My name is Rhoda Roby. I am 21 years old. I am an Indian citizen, but I was born and lived in the Kingdom of Bahrain for 18 years before moving to the United States in August 2022 to pursue my undergraduate degree in Computer Science.

Coming from countries with diverse faiths, I saw this as a great opportunity to learn how the Temple of Understanding advocates for interfaith values in the secular setting of the United Nations. This year’s focus on STEM engagement in global conversations at the intersection of technology, policy, and sustainable development at HLPF especially caught my attention.

I participated in my first Model United Nations conference this April. It was a powerful experience to witness nations negotiating and solving problems that affect us not just as countries, but as humanitarians.

Hi! My name is Saki Maeda from Tokyo, Japan, and I am an incoming freshman at Grinnell College, planning to major in Political Science with a concentration in Global Development. Having spent my childhood in London, New York, and California, I have developed a strong interest in geopolitical issues and their far-reaching impacts on both local and international communities. 

I discovered the Temple of Understanding’s internship program through my extracurricular  involvement in Model UN, and I am excited for the opportunity to deepen my understanding of the UN’s inner workings. I’m particularly interested in how UN missions, NGOs, and civil society organizations collaborate to advance the UN’s core goals of peace, security, and human rights. During my time at the Temple of Understanding, I hope to bridge my academic interests with meaningful action and to critically engage with the dynamics of international policy and law.

Hey! My name is Sophie. I am 21 years old and from the Netherlands. Currently, I am pursuing a degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences.

During my studies, I noticed my interest in understanding how global issues develop within different societies and, more importantly, how they can be addressed and maybe solved in meaningful and sustainable ways. This drew me to the Temple of Understanding, and this opportunity to intern at the United Nations gives me the chance to deepen my understanding of pressing global challenges.

In particular, I am interested in how international organizations, like the UN, can help protect and promote human rights for all and – my special interest – ensure women’s rights regardless of nationality, gender, or socioeconomic status. Working together with diverse perspectives to come up with solutions is something I really enjoy, and I hope to learn even more through this experience at the TOU!

Hello everyone! My name is Yann Grechez. I am 19 years old, and I am originally from Barcelona, Spain. I am currently studying Political Science at the University of Amsterdam, specialising in International Relations and pursuing a minor in European Politics and Law.

Politics and diplomacy have been central to my personal and academic life for as long as I can remember, a passion stemming from the objective of enacting meaningful and sustainable  change in my communities. The Temple of Understanding program caught my attention due to its commitment to a set of values that largely resonate with mine, as well as its large involvement with the United Nations. It is an NGO that I believe is the cornerstone of global sustainability, peace, and diplomacy.

I am thrilled to participate in the program, learn more about such a fascinating organisation like the UN, and meet so many like-minded people!

Hi, I’m Yuvraj Bedi! I am 18, I’m from Princeton, NJ, and I will be attending Emory University starting this fall. As someone passionate about improving interfaith dialogue, global relations, and human rights, I am thrilled to join the Temple of Understanding’s community and connect with all my fellow interns and mentors!

My passion stems from my interests in world history and cultures, which have reconnected me to my Sikh roots and inspired me to promote awareness among underrepresented communities, including my own. These efforts, along with volunteering by tutoring Afghan refugees, and my internships at a NJ State Assembly office and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), have significantly added to my experience and commitment to civic engagement.

I have also always been fascinated by emerging technologies and how they intersect with global challenges. I hope to combine my interests and experiences to contribute to a better world.