Each year, Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) organises the Summer Internship Program as part of which senior alumni from across Pakistan host 40 younger alumni for a 12 week internship at their organisations. Considering the level of competition and saturation in the market today, these internships serve as key entry points to our young alumni, not only helping them gain hands-on work experience under the mentorship of some of the best minds in their fields but also paving the path to full-time employment opportunities in the future.
Participating senior alumni are expected to provide substantive assignments and guidance to interns to foster their professional growth; in return, younger alumni work full-time in the host organisation for three months and are paid a monthly stipend by the PUAN Secretariat.
This year, a total of 35 mentees were hosted by 34 senior alumni across a diverse range of national and international organisations, out of which 6 interns were offered full time positions by their mentors at their host organisations.
Here are a few testimonials from some mentees about their internship experience.
Mahpara Asad
Courting the Law
“Working at CTL has shaped me as a professional in more ways than one. As a student of Gender Studies, it was inspirational to work under the supervision of Ms. Anoosha, who is an exceptional lawyer and a feminist. I learnt how to draft proposals, conduct research, organise events and market our work digitally. This experience has enabled me to view gender equality and gender transformation from a legal lens – a skill that will continue to benefit me for the rest of my professional career.”
Aqsa Amir
Pakistan Olympic Association
“The organisation felt like home from day one. I worked on grants aimed at safeguarding athletes from harassment and abuse in sport, coordinated internal meetings and huge events and assisted in the management and implementation of a diversity of projects. Most importantly, the internship enriched my understanding of sport as a medium for achieving physio-spiritual excellence and its capacity to unite individuals.”
Haresh Kumar
U.S. Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water
Sheraz
The Little Art
“I was part of an amazing team at The Little Art where I learned more than I ever expected. I got hands-on experience of office management, event management and most importantly, I came to know about the importance of art. This internship taught me how to be a team player and achieve my professional goals.”
Amna Siddique
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
“The internship focused on different aspects of academic research. I learnt about research proposal development, statistical softwares, data collection and qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques. In fact, I have decided to do my final-year thesis on an in-depth qualitative analysis of a social entrepreneurship project by a graduate of LUMS, which aims to address food insecurity in Pakistan.”
Mukhtar Wali
Lincoln Corner
“During the internship, I had the opportunity to organise workshops, learn about different tools and techniques of social media marketing, produce a range of multimedia products, and pitch and execute different community engagement events. An interesting by-product of this experience was the opportunity to network with and learn from thought leaders in science & technology, education, performing arts and entrepreneurship. I will cherish this experience forever.”
