I.C.E. Internships
Social Advocacy
About Wellington
In our survey of New Zealand cities to house our urban-based internships, Wellington stood out above the rest. As the country's capital city, Wellington is a sea-side gem with a vibrant population energized by numerous universities and travelers. The city has a population approaching 180,824, while the region boasts 450,765. The earliest name for Wellington from Maori legend is Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui, which means the head of Maui's fish. Caught and pulled to the surface by Polynesian navigator Maui, the fish became New Zealand's North Island.
Bound by its magnificent harbour, with wooden Victorian buildings terraced up steep hills, New Zealand's capital boasts spectacular views, challenging walks, a thriving cafe and entertainment scene, and serious dedication to the arts make Wellington an enormously enjoyable place in which to spend a few days.
Wellington boasts an impressive array of museums ranging from maritime exhibits to natural history to indiginous and modern art. And while the countryside may not be known for its cuisine, Wellington celebrates some of the best of Asian and middle-eastern cuisine in the Pacific.
It will not be difficult to make friends in Wellington as university students and travelers pour into the streets, pubs and discotecs after nightfall on a nightly basis.
Child Mentoring
This internship offers a special opportunity to work alongside a small, committed, and passionate staff providing services to children in New Zealand. A non-profit organization, it focuses specifically on issues of change, loss, and grief. Its work helps children, young people, and their families to find ways to live with life's losses, to build on their natural resilience, and to move forward.
Like adults, children grieve--not only for losses such as death, separation, and divorce, but also for losses such as those associated with sickness, disability, learning difficulties, migration, family disruption, and accidents. Yet too often their grief is neither acknowledged nor recognized; consequently, children regularly grieve alone and unsupported. This can have long-term effects on their achievement, self-esteem, relationships, and behavior. Left unsupported, they may well become 'at risk' statistics.
A relatively small investment of time, expertise, and resources can make a huge difference on the impact of loss on young people and their families. Support not only children and those around them, but also professionals (teachers, counselors, health professionals, government agencies, police, victim support organizations) in a variety of ways:
- Education and training
- Information and resource provision
- Counseling and support services
- Advocacy to enhance understanding of, and services for, grieving families.
Customized projects for an intern interested in social impact issues. With this internship you will be provided the opportunity to contribute to the social fabric of New Zealand. This internship is suited for a mature intern who possesses enthusiasm and a strong commitment to advocacy services.
Art Workshop Assistant
The Art Workshop is an arts and crafts workshop committed to an accessible, safe, sharing and supportive environment where people can explore their creativity. The workshop funding is by central and local government and charitable trusts. Most of the services are free in response to the needs of the participants and in the interests of a healthy community.
Interns, with a passion for helping people explore their creativity, can become involved in the various workshops - life drawing, photography and pottery classes. A participant/observer status will allow an intern the privilege of sharing in the activities of the center and the lives of the people who come into this space to explore and fulfill their creative dreams. It requires of an intern a high degree of self-direction and a genuine professional interest in the visual arts and their application, in assisting less advantaged members of the community.
Winner of the National Mental Health Award: Community Integration; Winner of the Innovative Provider Award ; Wellington City Community Awards/Arts and Culture.