Changchup Choedon’s Experience at Machik
My name is Changchup. I started interning at Machik last September. I had just graduated from Stony Brook University after spending some time in Tanzania and was interning for the International Rescue Committee, an INGO working with refugees from all around the world. After a month of my internship with the IRC, I had to decide whether I wanted to stay back at the IRC or apply for an internship at Machik, a Tibetan non-profit organization, all the way in DC. This meant commuting from New York to DC every week, which meant more expenses and time commitment. I had my doubts and concerns. However, it only took a half an hour conversation over Skype with Acha Wangmo, now my supervisor, to reassure myself that this is what I wanted to do. I had a feeling it would be worth it and now that I have come to the end of my internship with Machik I know I could not possibly have spent the past 6 months doing anything better.
Machik stands out to me because everybody here truly values you as an intern or a volunteer. The first thing you see when you walk in the office are the colorful prayer flags, each baring a name of the 400 plus volunteers that Machik has worked with. Losang la shows this off with gratitude every time we have a guest in the office.
The Machik team makes sure they invest the time to get to know their interns and, that the interns, in return, are benefiting and learning from this experience too. There are constant initiatives in the office to put this into practice such as Losang la’s “3 pm Tea Time” with the Interns. Last fall, we got together every Wednesday at 3 pm with our drinks and snacks to talk about what each one of us were working on. We also had discussions on various topics with Losang la. There are also many opportunities to listen to some very remarkable people give private talks in the office and all the interns are invited to be a part of it. I mean, how often do you get to engage in conversations with brilliant minds like Tsering Shakya la, Ananya Vajpeyi and Palzang la in a room with only 10 people. Furthermore, our feedbacks are taken seriously and are considered when planning events or programs in the future. I personally was assigned roles like Volunteer Coordinator for Machik Weekend 2014 and was as also given the opportunity to attend the Machik Retreat. This really makes me, as an intern, feel like I am involved in the process and amappreciated. Therefore, I feel a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the project and, make sure I am doing my best. This motivation that I felt was very unique to my internship at Machik.
Interning at Machik was such an incredible experience. In the past few months I have grown both personally and professionally. I have learnt, and in certain cases, relearnt something from everyone I have met through Machik: the staff, fellow interns, volunteers and many other inspiring people, each contributing to the Tibetan community in different ways. It was an honor being surrounded by such inspiring and dedicated people, especially Tibetan women. Most importantly I have learnt to appreciate the essence and joy of working with my community for our community, and that is exactly what I hope to do from here onwards.
Thank you Losang la, Tashi la, Acha Wangmo, Acha Noryang, Acha Nangkyi, Tekan la and Samdrup for the past wonderful 6 months that will stay with me forever. You inspire me!
#iammachik
Changchup Choedon
Machik stands out to me because everybody here truly values you as an intern or a volunteer. The first thing you see when you walk in the office are the colorful prayer flags, each baring a name of the 400 plus volunteers that Machik has worked with. Losang la shows this off with gratitude every time we have a guest in the office.
The Machik team makes sure they invest the time to get to know their interns and, that the interns, in return, are benefiting and learning from this experience too. There are constant initiatives in the office to put this into practice such as Losang la’s “3 pm Tea Time” with the Interns. Last fall, we got together every Wednesday at 3 pm with our drinks and snacks to talk about what each one of us were working on. We also had discussions on various topics with Losang la. There are also many opportunities to listen to some very remarkable people give private talks in the office and all the interns are invited to be a part of it. I mean, how often do you get to engage in conversations with brilliant minds like Tsering Shakya la, Ananya Vajpeyi and Palzang la in a room with only 10 people. Furthermore, our feedbacks are taken seriously and are considered when planning events or programs in the future. I personally was assigned roles like Volunteer Coordinator for Machik Weekend 2014 and was as also given the opportunity to attend the Machik Retreat. This really makes me, as an intern, feel like I am involved in the process and amappreciated. Therefore, I feel a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the project and, make sure I am doing my best. This motivation that I felt was very unique to my internship at Machik.
Interning at Machik was such an incredible experience. In the past few months I have grown both personally and professionally. I have learnt, and in certain cases, relearnt something from everyone I have met through Machik: the staff, fellow interns, volunteers and many other inspiring people, each contributing to the Tibetan community in different ways. It was an honor being surrounded by such inspiring and dedicated people, especially Tibetan women. Most importantly I have learnt to appreciate the essence and joy of working with my community for our community, and that is exactly what I hope to do from here onwards.
Thank you Losang la, Tashi la, Acha Wangmo, Acha Noryang, Acha Nangkyi, Tekan la and Samdrup for the past wonderful 6 months that will stay with me forever. You inspire me!
#iammachik
Changchup Choedon
Changchup Choedon Sherpa was born and raised in Nepal. She joined Machik as a Program Intern in September 2014. While at Machik, she coordinated the volunteer team at Machik Weekend and assisted with organizing various local seminars and lectures in DC. She previously interned with the International Rescue Committee for two summers, working with refugee youths from Tibet, the Middle East, and Africa. Changchup enjoys traveling to new places and learning about new cultures and languages. She treasures her time alone with herself as much as she cherishes meeting new people and socializing. A recent graduate from Stony Brook University, NY, with a Bachelors degree in Political Science, she plans to pursue a career in non-profit or international relations.