Internship Experience

Breanne Harder

In April 2011, I finished my Master of Planning degree at Dalhousie University and began looking for a position that would allow me to gain valuable experience working on an aspect of urban planning I enjoy. My interest in public space and park planning led me to apply for an internship with Sustainable Cities International, a not-for-profit organization based in Vancouver, through their CIDA-funded International Youth Internship Program.

My six month internship is hosted by El Instituto de Planeación para el Municipio de Colima (IPCo) in Colima, México. IPCo believes that the best way to promote positive change in communities is through local action and public participation within shared, public spaces.

As an urban planner at IPCo, my principal project involves examining accessibility in public spaces, predominately as it relates to people with disabilities. I am coordinating a project to examine the accessibility of public spaces in Colima, increase awareness of the need for accessible public spaces, and develop an action plan for improving accessibility in these spaces in the future. Tasks for the project include developing a work plan, overseeing a local intern, soliciting information from other municipal departments and organizations, facilitating workshops and public art projects, writing articles for IPCo’s blog, and developing documents through which I will present my findings to the municipality and the general public.

Schoolgirl participating in public art project which asked individuals to complete phrases and answer questions related to issues surrounding accessibility, disability, and universal design in public spaces.

Working in Mexico has been a great experience, not only allowing me to improve my Spanish, but it is also valuable to see how other cities approach planning and urban design initiatives. IPCo’s projects are fast-paced and have won a number of national and international awards. At IPCo, I have the freedom to make decisions regarding my project that I wouldn’t necessarily have working for a municipality or firm in Canada as a recent graduate. This allows me to use the skills I acquired through my undergraduate and graduate degrees and apply them to real world situations. The nature of my internship means that I will be able to see a project from beginning to end in a short amount of time.

Examples of phrases participants were asked to complete include: “For me, accessibility is...” and “A space for everyone needs...”

Of course, working in another culture presents challenges such as adapting to official communication processes, understanding that “later” means tomorrow and that “next week” means someday in the distant future. Learning to be flexible, but persistent, has allowed me to overcome these difficulties to keep my project (relatively) on schedule.

I would encourage anyone finishing their planning studies to apply for an internship abroad. These short-term placements are great opportunities to learn about planning practices in different parts of the world and gain valuable professional planning experience, while, if you’re lucky, avoiding Canada’s longest season — winter.

For more information on IPCo’s projects check out our blog www.imaginacolima.blogspot.com and for information about Sustainable Cities International and the International Youth Internship Program visit www.sustainablecities.net.

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