August 22, 2024 Our region proudly hosted the second annual Summer Internship Program (SIP), a program designed to foster talent, build a robust pipeline of skilled individuals and provide a dynamic learning environment where youth are empowered to grow, learn and make meaningful contributions to our mission.
Over 10 weeks, eight local students supported a variety of departments, each bringing their unique talents, creativity and passion. These young leaders immersed themselves in hands-on experiences, received valuable mentorship and tackled real-world challenges across various projects.
One of the highlights of this year’s program was the intern=capstone project. Each intern supported a project within their respective departments that supported a new initiative, laid a foundation for future work or completed a project from start to finish. The culmination of their hard work was showcased at a closing banquet at the Red Cross office in San Leandro, where the interns presented their projects to staff, family members and peers. They also earned a well-deserved Certificate of Completion from their program supervisor, celebrating the completion of their internship.
We are proud of the Class of 2024 Red Cross Summer Interns and the contributions they have made. Their thoughtful questions, innovative ideas and collaborative spirit helped us move the needle on several important projects. We look forward to seeing them engage with us as youth volunteers in various capacities, driving our mission forward!
We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the parents, guardians and families of our interns. Their support is invaluable—whether it was driving them to in-person meetings and activities, encouraging their participation or simply being a cheerleader. Their encouragement played a vital role in our intern’s success!
We invite you to view a snapshot of each intern’s capstone project posted below.
Arya Sule: Restoring Family Links Outreach Intern
Capstone Project: Restoring Family Links Toolkit
Arya, already involved with the Red Cross as a passionate advocate for humanitarian causes, took her experience from the International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign and channeled it into creating a toolkit for the Restoring Family Links (RFL) program. Her project aimed to create a toolkit to empower Red Cross clubs in high schools, colleges and Chapter Youth Executive Boards to raise awareness about RFL, a vital program that reconnects families separated by conflicts or disasters.
Graham Kohler: Blood Donor Ambassador
Communications & Outreach Intern
Capstone Project: Blood Donor Ambassador Promo Creation
Graham turned his creative talents toward producing a promotional video for the Blood Donor Ambassador (BDA) program. BDAs play a crucial role in making blood donors feel welcome and appreciated, helping create a positive donation experience from start to finish. Graham’s engaging video will help to attract more volunteers to this vital, lifesaving role.
Hrithika Trivedi: Community Resource Intern
Capstone Project: Research Services and Enhance Humanitarian Resources in San Joaquin County
Dusting off outdated directories and a spreadsheet, Hrithika created a comprehensive resource guide for San Joaquin County. Her project ensured that Red Cross services and contact information were prominently listed in partner organization and community directories. Along the way, Hrithika sharpened her professional communication skills, troubleshot unexpected challenges and mastered the art of juggling deadlines, all while making a meaningful impact in the community.
Keira Indick: Operations Coordinator Intern
Capstone Project: Creation of Sustainability Signage, Event Guidelines and Social Assets
As a passionate sustainability advocate, Keira found the perfect outlet in her internship with the Red Cross Operations team. She crafted a suite of materials, including guidelines, flyer templates and informative stand-up videos, all aimed at lowering the Red Cross’s carbon footprint. Keira’s creative touch is helping to “green” the organization, one eco-friendly sign at a time!
Neha Varughese: Sound the Alarm Intern
Capstone Project: Inspiring Volunteer Action and Community Engagement through Sound the Alarm
With the Silicon Valley Chapter facing challenges with running the lifesaving Home Fire Campaign, Neha stepped in to spark some much-needed change. She revamped the system for smoke alarm installation requests and found innovative ways to inspire volunteer engagement. Thanks to Neha’s research and creativity, volunteers are now motivated to reengage, and the chapter is back on track to exceed its smoke alarm installation goals this fiscal year—a win-win for safety and volunteerism!
Sameira Sharma: Multicultural Communications Intern
Capstone Project: Establish Blueprint of Division Spanish-based Communications Cohort
Sameira connected with Red Cross communicators from the regional, divisional and national level to craft a blueprint for a Spanish-based communications cohort. She created a plan to host monthly virtual meetings where internal and external Red Crossers can share their heritage, hone their communication skills and connect with like-minded colleagues. Sameira’s work helped to foster an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity while strengthening the Red Cross’s outreach.
Quinn Aftab: Communications Social Engagement Intern
Capstone Project: Creating a Foundation for a Digital Volunteer Cohort
Quinn’s personal journey with health issues fuels her dedication to effective communication. Her capstone project laid the groundwork for a regional digital volunteer cohort, equipping Red Crossers with the tools and resources to create engaging content for diverse audiences on social media. Quinn’s vision for a dynamic digital community is set to launch in 2025, and she’s eager to see it take off as she continues to serve as a volunteer, enhancing engagement and expanding the Red Cross’s online presence.
Zainab Khan: Blood Donor Ambassador
Communications & Outreach Intern
Capstone Project: Youth for Sickle Cell Educational Series
Zainab took on the challenge of raising awareness about sickle cell disease among youth and young adults. She developed a comprehensive three-part educational series titled “Youth for Sickle Cell,” which covers everything from general disease information to personal stories and coping strategies. Zainab also designed infographics to make the information accessible in multiple formats, ensuring the message reaches as many people as possible.
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