Shi interned at UNESCO Paris, gaining firsthand experience in global policymaking and international cooperation. In this blog, she shares her insights into working at the heart of an international institution, the lessons she learned, and what it’s like to live and work in the City of Love.

Paris was sunny in June. I was mingling with the mass of tourists who had come to the city to watch the Summer Olympics. The team I worked with at UNESCO was as busy as this city, intensively preparing for the global celebration of 2024 International Literacy Day (ILD).

International Literacy Day

I worked for the Literacy Team. It was the busiest time of the year, from June to September.

There would be a global celebration of International Literacy Day in Yaoundé, Cameroon on the theme of Promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace. Quickly acclimated to the work environment, I started my first task, drafting the year’s ILD leaflet.

The leaflet features two literacy awards (The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize and the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy)  and descriptions of six groundbreaking initiatives, for their remarkable contributions to advancing global literacy. Reading the International Literacy Prizes applications and seeing the countless governments, universities, NGOs, and frontline providers working for literacy development in the global south was most inspiring. I completed many reports, news articles, and three case studies during my following traineeship. My supervisor, a professional who has worked in literacy development for many years, often suggested valuable changes to my drafts.

International conferences and cultural events

Another advantage of working at Headquarters is the regular access to international conferences and cultural events of various countries. It’s a great way to learn about current hot topics in education and ongoing programs. Many people from academia come to share their research, and many high-level government officials present their country’s educational development from a leadership perspective. It’s also a great opportunity to network. I met a lot of talented fellow interns of my age and many seniors that I had only seen in citations before. Brown bag lunch events organized by UNESCO regularly helped interns to get to know each other and professional HR staff taught interns how to do networking.

Summer in Paris

Paris has always been one of the best destinations for learning and experiencing art, history, and culture. Museums, art galleries, bookstores, and gray and blue-roofed Ottoman buildings everywhere make this city unique and magnificent. 

As a closing line, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my amazing IEDP cohort, great PENN faculties, my supervisor and the literacy team in Paris, and my roommate, a cow cat named DiDi, who has accompanied me through many nights. Thank you again for your kindness, reliance, patience, and guidance.