I.C.E. - Policies

In-country Contact Person

We will also provide a contact person in your country (including Hawaii) to aid you in your internship experience. Our qualified and knowledgeable contact persons have been chosen because they are well-versed in local customs and they know the region. They will provide pre-trip information on the country and your internship placement; pick you up from the airport; suggest museums, beaches, and restaurants you might want to visit; and will check in with you (e-mailing, calling, or visiting) on a weekly basis. We are eager to hear about your progress and to suggest new and exciting places for you to visit. And though we're not counselors, you'll find an open ear should you need to talk about the challenges of living and working in a foreign land.

Expenses Covered

Your I.C.E. Internships tuition covers: housing, in-country support, office support, Lonely Planet Guidebook, airport pick-up, monthly bus pass (if applicable), introduction to internship site. Extended placements (3 1/2 months to 12 months) are available for a discounted fee.

Expenses Not Covered

Round-trip airfare to internship location(s), taxi and other ground travel apart from bus fare, academic credit fees (optional).

Refund Policy

The $15.00 application fee is non-refundable.
The $600 deposit allows I.C.E. staff members to initiate the set-up process (which includes contact with on-site/ overseas personnel, putting a deposit down on housing, and regular contact with the prospective intern). A majority of our time and costs are spent in the set-up process. The deposit indicates the intern's commitment to their placement. Once received, your deposit is non-refundable and will be applied toward the program fee. (The deposit is refundable ONLY if I.C.E. is unable to arrange an internship.

Accomodation

Hilo

Dormitory or shared apartment is available.
Studio apartment--If you need your own space, we have the place. Relax in your own flat in Hilo. Additional fees apply.

Overseas accomodation

Depending on the location of your internship and on the number of fellow participants, you may share facilities in an I.C.E. house, live with a host family, or stay in a private apartment/dormitory.

Food Costs

Purchasing food is your responsibility throughout the internship. You should budget $10 to $15 per day for food--more if you eat out at restaurants. We recommend that you bring $700 dollars per month in traveler's checks, leave the receipts at home, and carry a VISA debit card for ATM withdrawals and emergency purposes. Make sure the debit card has a VISA symbol or it will not work in Fiji.


I.C.E. - Placement

Placement Choices

On the application form, applicants will be asked to choose between several placement options for each country. Please note that it is acceptable to skip between categories when choosing topics. You should be willing to accept any of the placements listed. Those applicants interested in interning in more than one country, or in more than one site within a country, should contact our staff.

Internship Placement Conditions

It is not in our interest, nor the interest of our sponsoring organizations, for you to leave an internship site early. We ask that you work through the challenges that may accompany your internship, including: personality conflicts, distaste of host country's culture/food, loneliness, and other unforeseen challenges. We do not offer refunds except in cases where gross misconduct on the part of an internship host has taken place. The refund amount will not exceed 50% of fees paid to I.C.E. An internship is a "real world" undertaking in a professional environment. As with most paid jobs, you will be expected to perform at a high level. And, just like a paid job, you will have to negotiate some of your job duties as well handle any differences you may have with individual managers or company policies. Your I.C.E. contact person is there to help. However, he or she has an equal obligation to listen to and assist the internship host as well as the intern. The internships that work best are those in which the intern enters with realistic expectations about what a host can provide. While it is important to ask the right questions before arrival to formulate a general impression about the content of the internship, it is equally important to arrive with a mind open to the experience that presents itself. Interns should expect a shifting set of responsibilities that may vary from start to finish.

I.C.E. remains independent of internship providers. We have chosen hosts based on positive feedback offered from former interns; for new positions, we use our best judgment based on the host's reputation and our on-site assessment. We act on the information presented to us and try to provide interns with an accurate portrait of life within a given organization or company. We cannot guarantee or promise anything about a given internship owing to the host's autonomy from I.C.E. We can only do our best to mediate on your behalf and to portray what our hosts convey to us in informing you about the internship.

Further, host organizations reserve the right to terminate an internship placement at any time for any reason. Where said termination of the arranged internship has resulted from an intern's misconduct or poor performance, the participant/intern may be dropped from the program without refund. If an internship host, for whatever reason, terminates the position owing to concerns outside of the intern's performance, this will not void the present contract (except by request of the intern). I.C.E. will then make an effort to arrange for an alternate placement for the intern, taking into account the stated preferences of options, location, etc.

The maintenance of I.C.E.'s working relationship with each host organization is critical, and I.C.E. expects each intern to complete the duties and responsibilities with energetic participation and a strong collaborative attitude. Interns are encouraged to remain committed to their selected internship and to the associated responsibilities for the duration of the internship period. Moreover, interns are encouraged to discuss with their designated I.C.E. contact person(s) any disjuncture or dissatisfaction with the internship conditions. I.C.E. support staff stands ready to assist the intern with any difficulties he/she may experience with the location, housing arrangements, or the duties of the internship itself. It is the intern's responsibility to contact staff immediately should a problem arise--this includes a phone call or e-mail message to the Hawaii office. If an intern fails to show up for his/her duties without contacting a staff member, she/he may be dropped from the program.


I.C.E. - Documentation

Résumé

Your resume is your self-made key to the city. Refined and well presented, it opens doors with prospective employers. You need to set aside some time to ensure you have a quality final product. Take a look at the resume templates found in Microsoft Office 2000. Also, ask to see some sample resumes at any Kinkos. Most successful people will be more than happy to to provide you their CV should you ask. Consider approaching a family friend who you respect.

Begin by making a list of all the significant things you have done. Incorporate your accomplishments under appropriate headings. Your resume should include the following: name, mailing address, telephone, e-mail address. Include date of birth, name of school, course of study, level of education, special honors and any activities that seem relevant (language ability, study related to internship, leadership roles, sports, etc.). You should include whatever practical, professional, or personal experience you feel best highlights your strengths, abilities and talent. List computer proficiency, driver's license, etc. You will need to e-mail as an attachment and mail us five copies of a quality end product printed on 20 lb. paper.

Letter of Motivation

In one to two pages, provide your potential employer, housemates, and I.C.E. staff members with a concise, yet descriptive, introduction to yourself. Include aspects of your personality and past accomplishments that make you a unique individual. Provide an overview of the internship work you hope to perform; talk about what makes you a good candidate for the job. E-mail and mail to the Hawaii office.

Expectations

Round-trip airfare to internship location(s), taxi and other ground travel apart from bus fare, academic credit fees (optional).

It is not in our interest, nor the interest of our sponsoring organizations, for you to leave an internship site early. We ask that you work through the challenges that may accompany your internship to include: personality conflicts, distaste of home country's culture/food, loneliness and other unforeseen challenges. We do not offer refunds except in cases where gross misconduct on the part of an internship host has taken place. The refund amount will not exceed 50% of fees paid to I.C.E. An internship is a "real world" undertaking in a professional environment. As with most paid jobs, you will be expected to perform at a high level. And, just like a job where you are receiving payment, you will have to negotiate some of your job duties as well handle any differences you may have with individual managers or company policies. Your I.C.E. staff person is there to help. However, he or she has an equal obligation to listen to and assist the internship host as well as the intern. The internships that work best are those wherein the intern enters with realistic expectations about what a host can provide. While it is important to ask the right questions before arrival and formulate a general impression about the content of the internship, it is equally important to arrive with a beginner's mind-open to the experience that presents itself. Interns should expect a shifting set of responsibilities that may vary from start to finish.

I.C.E. remains independent of internship providers. We have chosen hosts based on positive feedback offered from former interns and, for new positions, we use our best judgment based on the host's reputation and our on-site assessment. We act on the information presented to us and try to provide interns with an accurate portrait of life within a given organization or company. We cannot guarantee or promise anything about a given internship owing to the host's autonomy from I.C.E.. We can only do our best to mediate on your behalf and portray what our hosts convey to us to the intern.

A completed application packet must include all of the following:

  1. Application Form
  2. $15.00 application fee
  3. Typed professional looking cover letter and résumé
  4. One photograph (send electronically if possible)
  5. $600.00 deposit (placed in escrow until we confirm)