Voices from Abroad: Benedetta Sironi

Geneva (Switzerland), International Organizations: International Trade Centre, WTO

Benedetta in Geneva

I put the bags in the basement, I left the hostel and I walked to work. This is how my unforgettable internship in Geneva started! It was a cloudy day (as often happens in Geneva), but I was pretty lucky and the hostel was just a 10-minute walk from the office.

Ethical Fashion Initiative in the International Trade Centre, I was about to start the best three months ever there! I found my empty desk with a big screen PC, a phone and an empty wall where I could immediately hang pictures, quotes and articles that inspired me. Last but not least, the view from the window was breath-taking: the lake with the famous Jet d'Eau, and the mountains with snow.

I found a house 4 days later, so I finally settled in and could start enjoying real life in Geneva. I couldn't wait to go to the office every morning, because there was always something new to do, some partner to call, some projects to work on, some amazing pictures of African landscapes to archive, some articles to find about us. Every day was a challenge, surrounded by international interns (Belgium, Russia, Burkina Faso, France, Finland!).

Interns at the World Trade Centre

There were three of us in my office, two interns and one consultant, always so nice and helping. Motivating environment, young and competent workers, an Italian boss always joking with languages: I had the chance to learn a lot and to understand how an organization works, and how an office works. I was so lucky with the people I worked with and with the mission of my project: help African women to earn a salary to improve life conditions. Way better than just sitting in a college room listening to a professor explaining development models. Way better than just studying books, reading papers and writing exams.

I had the chance to do something concrete, to see the results of my actions, to deal with real human beings who were as young as I am, though less lucky.

Every lunch in the office, at 12.30, was an opportunity to joke about the hard work, to complain about not being paid, to find FREE things to do because we were "poor interns" and couldn't afford much in crazy expensive Geneva. Then came the UN party. Second last week, more than 1000 guests, music, karaoke, food, friends, fun. The most amazing night of my life! The crazy thing was meeting all the colleagues from work in another "suit": dancing, drinking, chatting and laughing.

Thank you Geneva for this useful and exciting time!