Kwentong Kapuso: Catch the trade winds: internship experience at United Nations Office in Geneva

Three months before I received my master’s degree in Information Sciences in Business and Marketing in Barcelona, Spain, I submitted a resume for an internship.

After an initial phone call, two more interviews were conducted until I finally got the job in an office whose function I was unfamiliar with: I was hired as an Intern/Research Assistant in the United Nations Joint Inspection Unit under the UN Secretariat.

Despite not knowing anything about the field of international relations, I packed my bags and travelled to Geneva, Switzerland. I was given an assignment for six months.

All the excitement, wonder, as well as a feeling of cluelessness finally sank in upon my arrival in Geneva, where I was tasked to work at the Palais des Nations under my Cuban boss.

Soon I learned the unit I was working for is in charge of the systematic and objective review, analysis and recommendations of all UN funds, programs and specialized agencies. Also, this body is the only independent external oversight body of the UN system mandated to conduct evaluations, inspections and investigations system-wide.

As for me, I was tasked to assist the Evaluation and Inspection Officer by reviewing basic documentation and classifying proposals, which entailed analysis of key issues, including comparative analysis of the work of the 25 participating organizations. I also prepared questionnaires and interview guides,  analyzed information, prepared analytical charts, statistics, graphs and tables and modified the JIU website.

I was even tasked to assist the preparation of management assessments which required research, contacting participating organizations, searching for documentation all while analyzing recent organizational developments in the area of management and administration.

While the scope of the the work was on a global scale was quite overwhelming, I felt good to be part of such scholarly group of people. Ultimately, more than the apprehensions of my survival in such work place, I became conscious of the great opportunities and exposure for a new brand of education through my daily experiences.

Working at JIU allowed me to learn cross-culturally. I also learned how to work in harmony with other UN interns and staff coming from different nations. More than work I was able to foster friendships and created bonds that will last forever.

The groups of interns in my department usually visit different UN agencies during lunch time. We have visited World Health Organization, International Telecommunication Union, World Meteorological Organization, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and others. From where we dine, we can enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Geneva as we talked.

Aside from lunches, we would have “UN Drinks,” an unofficial event organized by interns from United Nations, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and other international organizations. Held every Thursday night and I can say it was a fun-filled weekly communion, meeting interns from different countries at good bars in Geneva.

My fellow students-practitioners amazed me because most of them hold a master’s degree, some even with two or three masters, while others already finished their PhD. All us meet at this melting pot, exchanging perspectives and partying together “wan to sawa.” Of these nights, I was able to meet people from Germany, Africa, Latin America, Madagascar and from other little known countries.

Aside from the professional and technical knowledge that I gained, I also learned different insights on how to view life, work and have faith in one’s capacity and identity. It magnified my awareness about worldwide issues, problems of international dimension and good plans and vision. Moreover, I also learned the different function, limitations, problems, procedures of the complex UN system.


For 183 days being a Research Assistant in the United Nations Joint Inspection Unit under the UN Secretariat, I realized that while it might not be the best job in the world, it is with great pride and honor that I shall claim I was part of the team.

Working outside the country, outside of my comfort zone and away from home, I learned three lessons I would like to share:
1. The world is an ocean of possibilities, swim.
The UN post is a known-to-few market. I learned about the opportunity mainly because someone told me that something like this exists.. I browsed the net and, without a second thought, clicked the SUBMIT button for my application that launched a thousand possibilities and discoveries about the world.

2. Catch the trade winds, as they pass by.
Have I not gone to Barcelona and brought my perseverance, optimism, enthusiasm and change of attitude, I would not have been here sharing my little story of courage.

3. Do ordinary things, extraordinarily well.
Six months might be too short a time to show how effective and efficient I was as a research assistant. But on my last day of internship, I received a certificate saying that I was “proven to be a dedicated and reliable professional and has contributed towards the advancing the work of the unit.”

After a year and a half, I became a Senior Administrative Assistant at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Ironically while I may not have been paid as an intern being one was definitely priceless. -- Lawrence Caniamaso (Edited by Patricia Denise Chiu, GMA News)

Lawrence Caniamaso, 25, encourages young graduate students to try internships at the UN system or other international organizations. He believes it is fulfilling personally, professionally, and intellectually.