The most common thing on our evaluations from our Hero Holiday participants is that everyone wants their trip to be longer! How would you like to spend three to four weeks working along side our staff to host two Hero Holiday trips? As an intern, you will have the privilege to be a part of the behind the scenes work of a humanitarian trip. You will be able to develop your leadership skills by receiving practical hands on experience. This program is highly recommended for people who are looking to develop their international and leadership skills. To be an intern you don’t need to have been on a Hero Holiday before (although that would be an asset) but need to have a heart of compassion and a desire to make difference in our world.
As an intern, you will be responsible to work along side the Hero Holiday Staff and here are a few examples of some responsibilities you will be assisting with:
- Registration - Your bright smiling face will be one of the first faces our participants see when registering for their trip. You will sign them in, get to know them, show them around and make them feel comfortable.
- Airport shuttles - Always a fun job, waiting for students to arrive at the airport. While holding a "Hero Holiday" sign you get to guess which passengers could be a participant and who could be a regular traveler. With our staff, bring them back to the hotel for registration and orientation.
- Team leading - Assist our staff in making sure that your team is having a great time and enjoying their trip. You set the example of a leader and help with any odd jobs needing to be done.
- Evening activities - A time for our participants to let loose and get to know each other. You will help organize these evenings and set the mood of excitement. Previous activities in the past have been a pool party, 80's dance party, games night, or our Hero Holiday mall.
- Job site moral - Assist in keeping the energy on the work site high and positive. Organizing games for the students to play with the children or showing participants how to do the jobs asked. Get your hands dirty and set the example of a hard worker.
- Loading transportation - Each teams' transportation needs to be loaded with a first aid kit, water coolers, ice, and packed lunches (if needed for the day) before participants arrive for the work day.
- Merchandise sales - First job is to model our wonderful Hero Holiday merchandise. To do this, you will receive a Hero Holiday t-shirt and then help in selling the merch after orientation, keeping an accurate inventory, and clean up.
- Many of our participants like to bring gifts with them on their Hero Holiday to donate to the community, families we build for, and other on going projects. We will need your help to sort these. It is like Christmas seeing all the interesting things everyone brings. We will often organize these into gift bags to give out in certain communities and pass on to organizations making a difference in the area.
- Cleaning and prep work - In both locations you help will be need in keeping our common places clean and in Mexico you will be helping our staff prepare the bagged lunches for the team's workdays.
- Our interns meet one day prior to the participants' arrival to do some in-depth training and orientation.
- Your second day is spent picking up students at the airport and helping with registration, orientation, and selling merch.
- On the third day we make our way to our Hero Holiday destination and begin the Hero Holiday.
- While in either the Dominican Republic or Mexico you will assist our staff in hosting a total of two Hero Holidays.
- A special and memorable time for our interns is also planned for the low time in between the two trips. This could consist of relaxation time, excursions, and/or special projects. In 2009, our Mexico interns built a community medial clinic and our Dominican interns lead a sports camp and shoe distribution.
- Be prepared to go home with life long friends!
Meals and Accomodations depend on which trip you are going on. - For Mexico, click here.
- For Dominican Republic, click here.
"This is such an amazing experience, there is so much to take from it! Everything and everyone I have encountered in Mexico has helped me to grow to be a better individual. I never thought I could be doing these things but this program has shown me a true purpose in living my life."
~ Chase, a 2009 Mexico summer intern
"My favourite part of my Hero Holiday was being an intern just because I still got to experience everything but also improved my leadership skills. I also found that because, as an intern, I had to think more critically to make the participants think more. I learned a lot about myself, my worth as a person, and what I am living for."
~ Stephanie, a 2009 DR summer intern
"I would highly recommend this internship to anyone. I think that it is important to open your eyes to the conditions that the majority of our world live in. These Hero Holidays are run in a way that preserves the dignity of both the participants and the members of the communities they work in. The relationships I have forged here have been some of the most valuable of my life."
~ Emma, a 2009 DR summer intern.
Trip Dates and Applications
| Date of Trip | Description | Deadline | Price** |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 4 - 28, 2010 | Intern Program - DR | Jan 30, 2010 | $3,885 |
| July 31 - Aug 27, 2010 | Intern Program - MX | Jan 15, 2010 | $2,235 |
Payment and Donation Log - Must accompany all payments and donations.
**Prices listed may be subject to extra fees. See application for full pricing and package details.
