An internship in the heart of Europe: ERSTE LESUNG in cooperation with the European Leadership Program (ELP) makes it possible
As a student on a European binational degree course, I had long wanted to do an internship in the EU bubble in the heart of Europe. Through my internship at ERSTE LESUNG and as a fellow of the European Leadership Program (ELP), I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in the world of public affairs and to share the experiences with other trainees and interns in European institutions, NGOs, and think tanks.
ERSTE LESUNG and the ELP cooperate to give young students an insight into the work in political Brussels. ERSTE LESUNG, as a public affairs agency based in Berlin, Brussels, and Paris, contributes expertise in the fields of strategic consulting and communication, among other things. The European Leadership Program (ELP) is a 5-month initiative of the Jesuit European Social Centre for graduates that offers a unique blend of leadership training and career exploration support, in addition to professional and spiritual training. The program consists of five segments: leadership, EU affairs, volunteering, coaching/mentoring and community.
Over the past two months, I had the opportunity to gain my first insights into public affairs work in Brussels at ERSTEN LESUNG together with a great, dedicated team. As an intern in the Brussels office, I was involved in the day-to-day business and client accounts from day one. Due to the diversity of client accounts, no two days are the same. Monitoring legislative processes in the EU Parliament and the Bundestag in particular is always a highlight for me, as the different client portfolios require me to immerse myself in a wide range of topics. In addition to my daily monitoring tasks, I am actively involved in various ERSTE LESUNG’s communication products, including “Krautshell,” a newsletter tailored to US public affairs professionals that delivers the most important news from Berlin and Brussels on a weekly basis. I find it particularly interesting to work on compiling and analyzing information. Tracking the evolution of political decision-making processes and helping to uncover important events and developments that give us all a better understanding of the political landscape is something I find incredibly important in this day and age, especially as a political science student.
Through my participation in the ELP, I have also become part of a truly unique community of young, ambitious people who, like me, are having their first or second experience in Brussels. I am therefore not only part of the EU bubble at work but also come home every day after work to people – now friends – who not only understand my work but are also actively interested in exchanging ideas about EU politics, the latest gossip from the Parliament, or the normal everyday madness that is also part of EU politics.
Volunteering is another great part of the program. At the start of the internship, we were introduced to the world of volunteering in Brussels by the project manager of the NGO Servethecity, and soon many participants took the opportunity to get further involved in the respective locations – in my case, Brussels, Münster, and Gelsenkirchen. The activities range from team-building workshops, mobile libraries for the homeless, collaboration with Croix-Rouge de Belgique in organizing emergency shelters, projects in hospitals to French courses and visits to retirement homes. This activity has helped me to get to know not only the prestigious, dressed-up EU Brussels but also the “real,” less pretty Brussels. An experience that can be enriching for anyone who wants to get to grips with politics in the long term!
As the ELP originated from a Jesuit initiative, there is no denying a certain connection to religion and spirituality. Since both topics have never been very important in my life, this part of the program seemed to be the biggest challenge for me. However, after two months on the program, I have come to realize that spirituality is not just about worship, rules and church, but so much more. The ELP offers us space to reflect on our desired role in the world. This can, of course, be about professional aspirations, but also about our relationship with others and with ourselves.
I am therefore incredibly happy to be part of the 10th cohort of the ELP through ERSTE LESUNG and can only advise future ERSTE LESUNG interns and students to immerse themselves in this unique experience and to “add even more Europe” to their internship experience.
Rebecca Schöler joined the ERSTE LESUNG team in Brussels as a student assistant in October 2023.
