Project Belize Intern Experience
Beyond your typical summer intern experience: PwC sends 150 interns to change lives in Belize
Summer internships ideally provide exposure to the working environment, new skills, new connections and the opportunity to gain valuable experiences to help shape the next phase of a student’s career. For 150 interns at PwC, participation in Project Belize also meant spending five days in Belize City, Belize—changing lives by teaching financial literacy to nearly 1,500 students.
“When I first heard that I would be attending Project Belize, I was excited to be a part of something this big,” said PwC intern Margaret Kennedy. “There are many opportunities to be involved in community service these days, but rarely with an entire national firm behind you, and this much time to learn from your colleagues outside the office.”
“I watched these students go from being unable to distinguish between a ‘need’ or a ‘want’ to developing their own business plans. Knowing that my teaching assisted in this development was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” said fellow intern Stephanie Garrison.
Stephanie Garrison (right) with a classroom of Belizean students.
What skills can you build to help you succeed in the early stages of your career? Based on what they learned in Belize, Margaret and Stephanie share their top recommendations:
Public speaking–comfort in addressing a group helps your overall confidence, whether it’s colleagues or a group of students in Belize.
- Adaptability–knowing how to set aside the plans you’ve made to address an unexpected situation or a shift in priorities.
- Communication–whether it’s creating lesson plans or a summary of your project, the ability to create clear, concise messages comes with practice.
- Creating engaging presentations–content should support your speaking points and drive the audience through a logical flow of information.
- Networking–no matter what the circumstances, knowing how to strike up a conversation and take advantage of the opportunity to meet new people is a key skill.
To learn more about Project Belize, visit www.pwc.com/campus.
