President’s Internship Program
Summer Class of 2014
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Ruben Aguero – Summer 2014 Position: President’s Intern for Youth Engagement Country of Origin: Paraguay Institution: The College of Wooster (Ohio) Major: Economics Special Mention: Former Youth Ambassador and AYLP Facilitator My name is Rubén Aguero and I am 19 years old. I am a President's Intern, in the Youth Engagement Team, and I would like to introduce myself to you. I was born and grew up in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. Living in the Tri-border area (Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay) is one of the reasons of why I like to immerse myself in and understand other cultures. I studied in a Lebanese Muslim school for 13 years, and that helped me become a polyglot; apart from speaking at home in Spanish and Guarani, the Paraguayan national indigenous language, I speak Arabic, English, French and Portuguese.
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All of these experiences gave me the tools to implement a community service project back in Paraguay, which focused on the restoration of public spaces and the realization of community festivals for greater involvement in the community.
I am currently a rising sophomore at The College of Wooster, OH, where I plan to major in Economics, and hopefully go back to Paraguay and continue working on economic development and social justice. I say continue because I already started this by volunteering in NGOs back home, doing anything I could to help people, especially youth. I worked in summer camps, taught ESL, and music; I also helped in the General Elections and in proposing the FONACIDE law, which increased funds for public education and infrastructure. My story with Partners begins in 2011, when I participated in the Youth Ambassadors (YA) Program. As a YA, I had the opportunity to increase my global IQ by learning about community service and people's experiences; I still find it incredible that Partners helped me find the relation between these two personal interests. I came to DC for a week, visited Partners’ office (and I am glad I am back), and met with other YAs from
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Latin America; I lived in Goodland, Kansas with a host family, and had a typical youth life: attended high school, made great friends, went to Homecoming and played sports. I also learned about community organizations and volunteered, of course. All of these experiences gave me the tools to implement a community service project back in Paraguay, which focused on the restoration of public spaces and the realization of community festivals for greater involvement of the community. The awesome experience I had helped me stay committed with Partners. I helped organize the American Youth Leadership Program in my hometown, and accompanied the program participants during their stay. As a Youth Engagement Intern, I will have the opportunity to work on this and more programs, which will help me grow and develop professionally as well as personally. I hope I will contribute my experience and capacities to the organization and also increase my network with people involved in international development.
Danielle Martin – Summer 2014 Position: President’s Intern for Leadership Exchanges Country of Origin: United States Institution: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Major: Business Management & Spanish (Bachelor’s Degree) Special Mention: Studied abroad in Costa Rica My name is Danielle Martin, and I'll be the International Business Fellows Intern. I grew up in a small town called Marshfield, Wisconsin (center of the state) for my entire life before moving to Eau Claire (about an hour away from the Twin Cities) to attend college. I just graduate this spring from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire with a double major in Business Management and Spanish for Business with a minor in International Business. I have plans to continue my education in the upcoming year or two by pursing a master’s degree in International Relations. Some of the graduate schools I have been researching and applying to are based both here in the states and abroad. If you have any recommendations on excellent schools here or overseas, I’d love to sit and chat with you!
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I believe that through the tools and resources that I have been given through Partners of the Americas, I will be able to reach out and have a positive impact on others here at home, and abroad.
My main passion throughout college has been my love of traveling and experiencing new places! Some of the countries I have visited during my travels include Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Spain, Italy, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, and many more. While growing up my family always has encouraged me to learn Spanish as a second language. This is partially due to the fact that my mother spent time in Spain while in college, and started teaching me Spanish very early on. Thankfully I have had the opportunity to study abroad twice, once in Costa Rica and another time in Italy. Costa Rica now holds a special place in my heart, especially for my Familia Tica. My host family abroad spoke little to no English, so it really pushed me to obtain fluency and a better understanding of the language. During my time overseas I also spent two weeks living with the BriBri tribe, an indigenous tribal group of Costa Rica.
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It was amazing to see how simple these people were living, and be able to experience their culture first hand. In my more recent study abroad last summer in Italy, I had a wonderful introduction to the arts, history, and foods and wines of the region. I spent my entire summer traveling and backpacking throughout Europe to continue my exploration of different cultures. My true passion throughout my college career has really been leadership and connecting it with culture. I participated in an organization on campus called AIESEC, which connects students with internships abroad. I enjoy helping others become connected and being able to set them up with opportunities to travel, similar to what I have had the opportunity to do. I believe that through the tools and resources that I have been given through Partners of the Americas, I will be able to reach out and have a positive impact on others here at home, and abroad. I look forward to working and getting to know all of you over this summer. I love talking and sharing travel stories and getting to know new people, so if any of you would like to grab lunch/coffee let me know.
Carlos Saavedra – Summer 2014 Position: President’s Intern for Outreach & Communications, Executive Office Country of Origin: Colombia Institution: SUNY Geneseo Major: International Relations, (Bachelor’s Degree Received) Special Mention: Originally from Colombia, studied abroad and/or traveled to Argentina, Portugal, South Africa, Senegal, and Mexico My name is Carlos S. Saavedra and I’m originally from Colombia. I grew up in Albany, NY and went to school at SUNY Geneseo. I majored in international relations and have traveled across several seas. I received my bachelor’s degree in December and aspire to continue my education within the next few years. Some hobbies of mine include watching way too many movies, playing soccer, and of course international travel. Among some of the places I have visited are South Africa, Senegal, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Argentina, and of course Colombia. My travels have brought me to different corners of the world, even more so having both Spanish and English under my belt.
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Having seen the ramifications of poverty, social inequity, and lack of education in a transnational context, I have committed myself to creating positive change and productive dialogue in order to combat these plagues.
Growing up for me was an interesting experience. Besides the fact that from a very young age any reference point of identity was somewhat hazy in terms of nationality, my father also convinced me that he spoke no English until I was about 12 years old. Directly resulting in a refusal to speak to him for a few days as well as about five years later seeing the incredible doors that had been swung wide open by my bilingual ability. Born in Armenia, Colombia a small city in the Andean valley region of the Colombian coffee lands, I still appreciate the smell of fresh air breezing through open windows. On the flipside, my heart seems to line up with the hustle and bustle of the major cities that have impacted my life. An easy first being New York City followed by several other favorites including Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Mexico, and Washington D.C. I thoroughly enjoy a good cup of coffee and seem to be more talkative than most. Some attribute my academic and young professional decisions to this
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characteristic, I say it is just the “paisa” in me. (“Paisa” being the term that Colombians use to identify individuals from my specific region of the country). My ambitions run far and deep into the incredibly expansive community that is international development and community leadership. Having seen the ramifications of poverty, social inequity, and lack of education in a transnational context, I have committed myself to creating positive change and productive dialogue in order to combat these plagues. With the tools being given to me at Partners of the Americas, I hope to make that commitment a reality of which I will inspire others to take on as well. On a lighter note, the passion for soccer runs through my veins. My ambitions of becoming the next Pele were shot down several years ago after tearing my ACL. I had surgery on my knee about 5 years ago and things just have never been the same. Although I do watch soccer games every chance I get and with the World Cup coming up in Brazil, intend to fully support Colombia. ¡Mi tierra querida!
Connor Hunter-Kysor – Summer 2014 Position: President’s Intern for the Legislative Fellow’s Program Country of Origin: United States Institution: Juniata College (PA) Major: Mathematics Special Mention: Rotary International Volunteer in Chile My name is Connor Hunter-Kysor and I will be interning with the Legislative Fellows Program working under Martin Rozenberg and Penelope Kim. I hail from a rural area located in central Pennsylvania. I spent the first 15 years of my life in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, which is a town 45 minutes south of State College, PA, where the Pennsylvania State University is found. After completing my first year of high school, I applied to become a Rotary Youth Exchange Student through the Rotary International Organization and was sent to Santiago, Chile, to fulfill my duties. During my stay, I was given the opportunity to further my studies in Easter Island, where I stayed for three weeks to explore and help complete development projects implemented through my foreign Rotary Club in Chile.
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With this education, I feel that I will be able to provide healthcare to persons in the United States and hopefully move my work into Central and South America.
Returning from my study abroad, I founded a local Interact Club within my high school, which is the equivalent to Rotary, but for high school and middle school students to be introduced to international service. I currently attend Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, as a rising third year student pursuing a degree in Mathematics with minors in Economics and International Studies. I discovered Partners of the Americas through a connection with a staff member at my college, JoAnn Wallace, who retired a number of years ago, but assisted me in finding this organization as she knew I was enthusiastic about
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developing my professional network and skills. I hope to gain the necessary traits to continue my international education to apply them to eventually become an English teaching assistant in Brazil through the Fulbright Scholarship program. Tentatively, I am pursuing my bachelor’s degree, but I hope to receive my Masters of Public Health and eventually a Ph.D. in Biostatistics with an emphasis in Epidemiology. With this education, I feel that I will be able to provide healthcare to persons in the United States and hopefully move my work into Central and South America. If you have any questions, I am more than happy to discuss them with you as I am a pretty sociable person and I can network with anybody!
Enrique Romero – Summer 2014 Position: President’s Intern for Program Engagement & Board Governance, Executive Office Country of Origin: United States Institution: Grinnell College (Iowa) Major: Sociology and Political Science Special Mention: Visited Partners last fall during an internship with the Mexican Cultural Institute My name is Enrique Romero. I am a 21-year-old rising fourth year at Grinnell College (in Grinnell, Iowa). I am double majoring in Sociology and Political Science with an informal minor in Psychology. My story is quite long, but the short version follows. I was born in Los Angeles, California. I lived in Orlando, Florida, for seven years. Then I moved to Tapachula, Chiapas (Mexico), where I resided for three years. Subsequently, I moved to Morelia, Michoacán (Mexico), where I spent another three years.
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I know the skills I learn while working at and with Partners of the Americas will carry onto my future endeavors. I am an open book – that is, I am ready to learn.
Afterwards, I moved to San Antonio, Texas, where I spent three years before I moved to Iowa for college. I have moved around so much because my dad is a Consul for the Mexican government. He is from Michoacán, and my mother is from Puebla. Having been raised by Mexican parents –who prohibited English in the house- and spending more than half of my teen years growing up in Mexico, I identify strongly as Mexican. I love: working out, eating healthy, and reading about human behavior and economics. My one true passion is soccer. After college, I hope to participate in Teach for America; and, afterwards, hopefully enter law school or possibly a soon-to-be-decided graduate program.
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During my two-month internship at Partners, I hope to learn as much as I can: personal and professional skills (i.e. networking, grant writing, management, leadership etc.), knowledge about other countries, and a deeper understanding of Partners. I know that the skills I learn while working at and with Partners will carry onto my future endeavors. I am an open book – that is, I am ready to learn. My curiosity has led me to this desk and I hope that you take the time to teach me something: anything you like! Please feel free to talk to me at any time, in any language. Also feel free to ask for help – I hope I can be a resource and teach as much as I will learn from you.
Daniela Zuluaga V. – Summer 2014 Position: Graphic Design, Communications Country of Origin: Colombia Institution: EAFIT (Medellín, CO) Major: Product Design Engineering Special Mention: Has a close connection to the Partner’s Antioquia Chapter through a previous Legislative Fellow. I'm from Medellin, Colombia and I am 22 years old. My nickname is DanZuVel. Dan means Daniela; Zu means Zuluaga, my father’s last name, from whom I inherited my sense of responsibility, professionalism and leadership. As well as Vel from Velez, my mother’s last name, from whom I inherited my passion and creativity. I am a student about to graduate in engineering product design from the University of EAFIT. I have always drawn from my creativity and design ability to grow and be able to serve in all areas to the people who need it.
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This experience will open paths that I want to go where things are simple, accurate and can be used to achieve positive change in my hometown as well as all across the globe. Growing as a person and as a professional to be someone useful to the world.
As I mentioned I have a passion to create, design and simultaneously serve while helping anyone who needs it. Regardless I understand the best way to do this is first I have to grow in many ways, both personally and professionally, by learning from each experience incorporating different cultures. In my interest to help and serve, I have worked with multiple foundations and groups in my hometown. Specifically with an organization called Soñar Despierto and the staff at my university as part of a program called Giant. A program centered on the idea of social design and its implications. In all these experiences I realized that both serving and helping are my passions. It is something I enjoy and fulfills me as a person. For all these reasons I decided to look for an internship in the social field which has brought me this far and will continue to do so. I also belong to a group rescue squad in my town and I have taught and practiced Kung Fu for many years. This being a hobby that demands much dedication and discipline. Characteristics of which I intend to apply on this journey as part of the Partners of the Americas intern team.
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During my career I have developed several projects. Some of them have to do with the design of social media. Design work that grabs my attention is anything that has to do with the way things are presented and the communications thus involved. When creating products or programs with this internship I will grow much more in these areas and work hand in hand with knowledgeable people who and are able to teach it just as well. I know that everything happens for a reason and those who come into our lives will forever teach us something. You’re welcome to show me what you want, I'll do my best to teach you something new and we will have fun doing it!