CALL FOR INTERNS July 20 to September 8, 2015

ABOUT THE PROGRAM The Leyte First Governance Internship Program is an eight-week internship program designed to provide fresh college graduates with an unmatched experience to learn firsthand our nations governance structures, particularly its policy-making and legislative processes. It intends to provide them with the unique opportunity to better understand how the Philippine government, specifically the House of Representatives, works. More importantly, it aims to instill in them an appreciation for the institutional role that Congress plays in our democracy.

The Leyte First Governance Internship Program will help develop promising college graduates from

the First District of Leyte towards becoming informed decision makers and influential community leaders who would one day shape our nation. The interns will undergo trainings on professional and leadership development and participate in a community service projects. They will be given the unparalleled experience of working in a legislative office, a government agency, or an affiliated political social-profit or civil society organization. This would allow them to have valuable exposure to the procedure, programs, politics, agenda setting and policy of a congressional office.

The Leyte First Governance Internship Program intends to strengthen the youths professional

abilities and leadership skills, ultimately promoting community participation and governance engagement. At the end of the program, the students are expected to:

Establish their personal and career goals Foster interest in public service careers Create meaningful connections with professional and personal contacts Develop real-world skills Inspire confidence in others

The program is open to all college students who are at the time of their application, have graduated or

scheduled to graduate by the end of academic year 2014-2015. To qualify, they or their parents must presently be a resident or must have family origins from the municipalities covered by the First Congressional District of Leyte.

This year, twenty-five (25) interns will be selected. Fifteen (15) students enrolled in Leyte will be assigned to an internship placement in Metro Manila while ten (10) students enrolled in Manila will be assigned within the First District of Leyte.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS Pre-Program Orientation and Training

All interns will undergo a five-day pre-program orientation and training in Manila. It will include the

general orientation on the internship, a leadership development and teambuilding course, lectures on the Philippine political system, roundtable discussions on current social and political issues and trainings on community mobilization and event management. Internship Program Proper

The Internship Program Proper will cover four weeks. Using the experiential learning approach, the

program shall focus on three key areas:

Governance Internship. Interns coming from Leyte will be assigned to the Office of Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez at the House of Representatives. Metro Manila-based interns will be assigned at the Leyte First Congressional District Office, Tacloban City. All interns will be assigned to work closely with the existing legislative and political staff on a variety of programs and projects and assist with routine office tasks (depending on which office they will be assigned). They may also be designated to other legislative office or government office where they will gain further first-hand knowledge of the governance process. Each intern shall be provided with an internship plan as well as written job description detailing his or her assigned duties and responsibilities and the name and designation of the person to whom he or she will report.

Leadership Development. Aside from professional and leadership development training, all

interns shall attend weekly learning sessions led by experts and leaders from a wide range of professional backgrounds. They will engage in substantive policy discussions with these speakers and share and exchange ideas with their co-interns. They will also get to build meaningful professional connections and have a platform or an open dialogue on issues of mutual interest.

Community Service. All interns shall be required to be engaged in a community service project-

from conceptualizing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating. This will help them broaden their personal experience with civic engagement and allow them to give back to their communities.

During the program, the interns will be provided with mentoring support and professional supervision.

Introspection sessions and group workshops will also be conducted weekly. Interns will also be encouraged to write a journal or an activity report during the internship period.

Post-Program Introspection and Evaluation

All interns will undergo a five-day Post-Program Introspection and Evaluation in Tacloban City. They will have the opportunity to share their learning and reflections, assess and review the program and plan out their post-program activities.

Each intern shall receive a Certificate of Completion.

SELECTION PROCESS Applications should be addressed to the Project Coordinator and will be submitted to the Office of Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. A selection committee shall review all applications. The selection committee shall take into consideration the applicants solid scholastic achievement, strong communication skills, community service contributions, evidence of leadership skills, quality of the application essay and the panel interview results. Interns will be chosen based on the following selection criteria:

High academic achievement (preference of 2.5 GPA or higher) Evidence of leadership skills and potential for leadership growth Demonstrated commitment to public service and community activities Superior analytical skills, outstanding oral and written communication skills Desire to explore a career in politics, public service or governance

Interested applicants are required to submit the following documents:

a. Internship Application Form b. Three (3) passport-size photograph in a professional or academic attire c. Photocopy of the Birth Certificate or Passport Personal Information Page d. Personal Life Plan and Essay Questionnaire e. Curriculum vitae or Resume, not more than three pages. It must include a listing of extracurricular

activities, honors, employment (if applicable), community service and special skills. f. Two (2) letters of recommendation, one of which must be written by the head of the college or

university where the applicant is enrolled. Letters must be on an official letterhead with the signatorys details (title and contact information).

For the candidate's application to be considered complete, letters of recommendation must be submitted together with the rest of the requirements, on or before the set deadline.

There shall be two screening levels. The first screening will be based on the assessment of the

documents submitted by the interns. Those who have qualified for the second screening will present themselves for an interview to be done on location in Manila and Tacloban. Applicants may also opt to have an interview through Skype. All selected interns will be notified by email within two weeks after the panel interviews.

Deadline for application and submission of requirements is on 15 June 2015.

INTERNSHIP INCLUSIONS

All interns will be provided with living allowances for the duration the internship. They will also receive free food, housing and local transportation. The program will also cover the roundtrip airfare costs from Tacloban to Manila.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE 15 May 2015 - Call for Participants

Start of Application Period

15 June 2015 - End of Application Period Deadline of Submission of Application Requirements

- First Level of Screening 22 June 2015 - Second Level of Screening 1 July 2015 - Announcement of Accepted Interns 20 July to 8 Sept 2015 - Leyte First Governance Internship Program

CONTACT INFORMATION For more information and inquiries, please contact

Ms. Jewel Therese de Veyra Project Coordinator Contact No. 0917-575-2355; 0909-227-5147 Email: leytefirstinternship@gmail.com