Valentina Gaytan Melendez, Honours Bachelors of Science in Psychology, 4th year
Internship country: Guatemala
Canadian NGO: CECI
Local NGO: Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
As a student in a BSc of Psychology, I have spent the past years engaging with theories of social development, motivation, and research methodology in the classroom. This winter, through an international internship with CECI and Creamos in Guatemala City, I have had the opportunity to experience how these academic concepts interact with complex social realities. Above all, this experience has been an exercise in learning - learning how theory translates into practice, how context shapes intervention, and how humility strengthens professional growth.
My internship takes place in a community located in what is widely known as the city’s garbage disposal site. Despite this designation, it is also home to hundreds of families whose lives, relationships, and aspirations extend far beyond how the area is commonly described. The organization I work with provides here multidimensional social services, including emotional and psychological support, educational programming, workforce integration initiatives, and income-generating projects such as a textile workshop. These programs are supported by a dedicated impact team that monitors progress through data collection and reporting processes.
Being immersed in this environment has challenged many assumptions I previously held. Much of the psychological and social theory taught in Western academic institutions is grounded in Eurocentric frameworks. While these theories offer valuable tools, my field experience has highlighted how cultural, economic, and historical contexts shape the ways in which social systems function. The realities of daily life in Guatemala City do not always align neatly with theoretical models. Instead, I have observed how community dynamics, resource constraints, and cultural norms require flexibility and adaptation. Rather than invalidating academic learning, this experience has deepened my understanding of its scope and limitations.
My coursework has taken on new meaning as I observe programs designed to foster resilience and long-term stability. In particular, my training in psychometric methodologies and statistics has proven directly applicable. I have been entrusted with organizing and contributing to a qualitative interview project, drawing on research design principles, data observation techniques, and analytical skills developed at the University of Ottawa. Translating methodological knowledge into a real-world setting has required both rigor and creativity. It has reinforced the importance of ethical research practices, careful data interpretation, and sensitivity to participants’ lived experiences.
This internship has also contributed significantly to my professional and personal growth. Working in a dynamic environment has strengthened my adaptability and collaborative skills. Intercultural communication has been facilitated by my own Latina (Mexican) background, allowing me to navigate cultural nuances with greater awareness. At the same time, I have become more conscious of my positionality as an international intern - balancing Western academic frameworks with the lived realities of Latin American communities. This awareness has underscored the responsibility that comes with engaging in community-based work: to listen carefully, to approach challenges with humility, and to recognize the expertise that already exists within the community.
Experiential learning is invaluable in the social sciences. International internships provide an opportunity not only to apply academic knowledge, but also to critically reflect on it. Concepts discussed in lectures become more complex, more nuanced, and more human when encountered in practice. At the same time, the discipline and analytical structure provided by university training enhance one’s ability to contribute meaningfully to the field. The relationship between theory and practice is not linear; it is reciprocal.
Looking forward, this experience has given me a concrete reference point for future studies and potential postgraduate pursuits. It has strengthened my confidence in pursuing work related to social development and community-based research. Most importantly, it has affirmed the value of integrating academic inquiry with lived experience. I am deeply grateful to be part of a team whose dedication and commitment to their work continues to inspire me daily. Their example reinforces the importance of passion, professionalism, and perseverance in the pursuit of social change.
This internship has not only expanded my academic understanding but also reshaped how I approach learning itself - as an ongoing dialogue between classroom knowledge and the realities of the world beyond it.