I.C.E. - Policies

In-country Contact Person

We provide a contact person in all locations to aid you in your internship experience. Our qualified and knowledgeable contact persons have been chosen because they are well-versed in local customs and they know the region. They will pick you up from the airport; provide transportation information, suggest museums, beaches, and restaurants you might want to visit; and you are welcome to call or email them as needed throughout your stay. We are eager to hear about your progress and to suggest new and exciting places for you to visit. And though we're not counselors, you'll find an open ear should you need to talk about the challenges of living and working in a foreign land.

Expenses Covered

Your I.C.E. Internships tuition covers: housing, in-country support, office support, Lonely Planet Guidebook, airport pick-up, introduction to internship site. Extended placements (3 months to 12 months) are available for a discounted fee.

Expenses Not Covered

Round-trip airfare to internship location(s), ground travel, food, insurance, other expenditures.

NOTE: We do not pay internship hosts and the hosts do not pay I.C.E.. This ensures the internship hosts wants you for your job skills and not financial incentive and insures a higher quality internship. See above Expenses Covered to see where your tuition goes.

Payment/Refund Policy

The $15.00 application fee is non-refundable.

The $600 deposit allows I.C.E. staff members to initiate the set-up process (which includes contact with on-site / overseas personnel, putting a deposit down on housing, and regular contact with the prospective intern). A majority of our time and costs are spent in the set-up process. The deposit indicates the intern's commitment to their placement. Once received, your deposit is non-refundable and will be applied toward the program fee. The deposit is refundable only if I.C.E. is unable to arrange your preferred internship. You can pay your deposit directly to I.C.E. or to an independent law firm that we use that will hold the money until the internship is confirmed.

Accomodation

We have several options depending on which country you are going: private room in shared apartment with other university students (female with female / male with male), studio apartment--If you need your own space, we can find the place (extra fees apply), dormitory, or homestay.

Food Costs

Purchasing food is your responsibility throughout the internship. You should budget $10 to $15 per day for food--more if you eat out at restaurants. We recommend that you bring $600 dollars per month in traveler's checks, leave the receipts at home, and carry a VISA debit card for ATM withdrawals and emergency purposes. Make sure the debit card has a VISA symbol or it will not work in Fiji.


I.C.E. - Placement

Placement Choices

On the application form, applicants will be asked to choose between several placement options for each country. Please note that it is acceptable to skip between categories when choosing topics. You should be willing to accept any of the placements that you put down so only list what you are willing to accept..

Internship Placement Conditions

It is not in our interest, nor the interest of our sponsoring organizations, for you to leave an internship site early. We ask that you work through the challenges that may accompany your internship, including: personality conflicts, distaste of host country's culture/food, loneliness, and other unforeseen challenges. We do not offer refunds except in cases where gross misconduct on the part of an internship host has taken place. The refund amount will not exceed 50% of fees paid to I.C.E. An internship is a "real world" undertaking in a professional environment. As with most paid jobs, you will be expected to perform at a high level. And, just like a paid job, you will have to negotiate some of your job duties as well handle any differences you may have with individual managers or company policies. Your I.C.E. contact person is there to help. However, he or she has an equal obligation to listen to and assist the internship host as well as the intern. The internships that work best are those in which the intern enters with realistic expectations about what a host can provide. While it is important to ask the right questions before arrival to formulate a general impression about the content of the internship, it is equally important to arrive with a mind open to the experience that presents itself. Interns should expect a shifting set of responsibilities that may vary from start to finish.

I.C.E. remains independent of internship providers. We do not pay internship hosts and they do not pay us. We have chosen hosts based on positive feedback offered from former interns; for new positions, we use our best judgment based on the host's reputation and our on-site assessment. We act on the information presented to us and try to provide interns with an accurate portrait of life within a given organization or company.

The maintenance of I.C.E.'s working relationship with each host organization is critical, and I.C.E. expects each intern to complete the duties and responsibilities with energetic participation and a strong collaborative attitude. Interns are encouraged to remain committed to their selected internship and to the associated responsibilities for the duration of the internship period. Moreover, interns are encouraged to discuss with their designated I.C.E. contact person(s) any disjuncture or dissatisfaction with the internship conditions. I.C.E. support staff stands ready to assist the intern with any difficulties he/she may experience with the location, housing arrangements, or the duties of the internship itself. It is the intern's responsibility to contact staff immediately should a problem arise--this includes a phone call or e-mail message to the Hawaii office. If an intern fails to show up for his/her duties without contacting a staff member, she/he may be dropped from the program.


I.C.E. - Documentation

Résumé

Your resume is your self-made key to the city. Refined and well presented, it opens doors with prospective employers. You need to set aside some time to ensure you have a quality final product. Take a look at the resume templates found in Microsoft Office. Also, ask to see some sample resumes at any Kinkos or online.

Begin by making a list of all the significant things you have done. Incorporate your accomplishments under appropriate headings. Your resume should include the following: name, mailing address, telephone, e-mail address. Include date of birth, name of school, course of study, level of education, special honors and any activities that seem relevant (language ability, study related to internship, leadership roles, sports, etc.). You should include whatever practical, professional, or personal experience you feel best highlights your strengths, abilities and talent. List computer proficiency, driver's license, etc. You will need to e-mail as an attachment intern@cultural-ecology.com.

Letter of Motivation

In one to two pages, provide your potential employer, housemates, and I.C.E. staff members with a concise, yet descriptive, introduction to yourself. Include aspects of your personality and past accomplishments that make you a unique individual. Provide an overview of the internship work you hope to perform; talk about what makes you a good candidate for the job. (There is a section for this on the application on the website. Or, you can email it to us.

A completed application packet must include all of the following:

  1. Application Form
  2. $15.00 application fee
  3. Typed professional looking résumé emailed to intern@cultural-ecology.com
  4. One photograph (send electronically if possible)