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| The United Nations University Financial Assistance
Programme for Students from Developing Countries Studying in Japan
(FAP) provides self-financed students from developing countries
with reimbursable funds necessary to study in Japan. The following
report focuses on an APU student recipient who pursued an internship
at the United Nations University (UNU). |
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SAMSUDEEN Siyana Habeeba
(APS 3, Sri Lanka)
The FAP internship was carried out during the summer of 2004. I expressed my
interest and was accepted on the program after going through the motions of the
selection process. I was the first student accepted for an internship at the
UNU on this program. As I hope to work for the United Nations (UN) in the future,
I considered myself very fortunate to be given the opportunity to gain some practical
experience in one of the UN organizations.
On this internship program, everyone was assigned work such as helping
produce the FAP newsletter, and I learned how to work effectively as a
member of a team to achieve the best results possible. I was very happy
that there were two other interns working alongside me. We were required
to interview a large number of people, including staff of Japan Airlines
and students receiving financial assistance through FAP. Working under
a tight deadline was at times difficult, but thanks to the friendly FAP
staff we were able to get it done on time. We also had opportunities to
participate in various UN international conferences and experience first-hand
how the UN goes about things. OUTREACH, the official FAP newsletter, which
has been published on the FAP website since October 2004 was one of
my main jobs during the internship.
During my internship, I met many people who work for the UN and I received
much valuable career advice on what kind of work experience I would need
to work there in the future. I am now more than ever determined to become
a staff member of the UN, and I am confident that the internship will help
me on my way to ultimately achieving my dream. |
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Recipients of FAP are generally recruited with the purpose of compiling the
program newsletter. Japanese students are also recruited due to the need for
Japanese composition. The internship period is for three months in summer between
July and September and for 2 months during spring in February to March. APU provides
application information around May and November every year. For more detailed
information on FAP please refer to the website at
http://www.fap.hq.unu.edu/
where you can also review past issues of the FAP newsletter, OUTREACH.
Since the newsletter is primarily aimed at foreign students and attempts
to provide them with interesting and useful information, we expect
the interns to draft it from an international student's perspective.
Past interns have more than fulfilled our expectations and have motivated
the FAP staff to continue their efforts to assist foreign students.
The interns invariably face different problems in producing the newsletter,
but the feeling of achievement when it's done makes it all worth
the effort. We hope you will consider an experience of this kind.
ONISHI Yoshinobu, FAP Programme Officer KAWAI
Miyuki, Programme Associate
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Internship Experience at the United Nations University Taking the First Step Towards My Future |
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