This summer the Caux Interns Program came together under a common vision, “The Spirit of Caux in our Hearts, Heads and Hands”.

Over the course of 2 months, nearly 70 young people from all over the world came together to help with the day to day chores of running a conference center in 9 different departments as varied as Technical Support, Kitchen and Housekeeping. They also participated in an intentionally designed program that included attending conference sessions, leadership workshops and reflection times.

There was a noticeable American presence in the program. In total, six were involved from various backgrounds including an IT professional, a psychology major and a NGO worker specializing in refugee affairs. Three returned for a second time to Caux, eager to give their energy to run the centre and immerse themselves in the unique culture and spirit of Caux.

(Photo: Adriana Borra)

Logan Sandridge, an actress from DePaul University, wrote, “Being in Caux the past two summers (in 2008 as a Conference Assistant to Renewal Arts and this year as a Caux Intern) has consistently exceeded my expectations. Each time I have visited I have found more love in myself and in the world. I am amazed by the generosity and hope I see there and I leave full of inspiration.”

Many of the interns hope to return to Caux next year. Others plan to increase their involvement with Initiatives of Change when they return to their respective countries. All simply want to carry the Spirit of Caux with them down the mountain.

(Photo: Adriana Borra)
Katie Hathaway, a graduate student in International Communications, said, “The Caux Interns Program allowed me to experience the IofC vision and the Caux Spirit for 7 weeks. Over that time I interacted with people from all around the globe who I now call friends. I gained perspective about my future, experienced personal growth and discovered how I see the world. I worked, played, ate, lived and learned with these people of various backgrounds, ages, and cultures, and I made memories that I will always cherish.”

The Caux Interns Program is steadily moving to become a more polished and professional internship experience. Plans for the summer of 2010 are underway and will build on the measured success of the past two months. Chris Breitenberg, one of the coordinators of the program, sees a summer internship as a particularly good option for Americans: “At Caux, one is exposed to so much of the world at once. It’s a pivotal experience for any young person, but I feel it’s especially so for Americans. To couple that exposure with a sustained engagement at a service level makes the Interns Program a unique opportunity for young people – to challenge their preconceptions about the world, build deep and perhaps unexpected relationships and give consistently to a vision bigger than themselves. These are ground-breaking, horizon-expanding kinds of experiences not often found in a summer job.”

A new batch of Caux Interns will be welcomed to the house in the summer of 2010. The application pool should open by the end of the year. For more information, visit www.caux.ch/en/caux-interns.