Mark Your Footsteps Around the World with AIESEC!

As university students, we always wonder, how? How can I get more out of my education? How can I get a job after graduation? How can I travel the world? How can I truly make a difference?

Shia Liu, a third year computer science student from ZheJiang University in China who is currently on an international exchange at SFU, found the answers to these questions through AIESEC. As the world’s largest student-run organization, AIESEC provides life-changing internships in more than 107 countries.

Last summer, Shia Liu travelled halfway across the world to Accra, Ghana, as part of an AIESEC internship. Through AIESEC’s Empowering Africa Program, she worked for five weeks in Ghana alongside the ASK Project, which aims to create awareness for HIV and AIDS while training young African entrepreneurs.

Being a computer science student growing up in China, undertaking this opportunity definitely made Liu step outside of her comfort zone.

“My AIESEC internship experience totally changed my view of the world. That may seem like an exaggeration, but it is such a worthwhile experience. You get to see the world from another perspective and how you can contribute to the lives of others in a way you have never imagined.”

Liu was able to experience a foreign culture firsthand, allowing her to not only to travel and see the beauty of Africa, but it also let her make a positive impact on the less fortunate.

“For the average person, it’s difficult to make an impact on children living in a country so far away, but when you go on exchange and get in contact with these kids, you realize they are in a really hard situation. They need more help and more attention from the outside world because they don’t have enough resources for them to develop their own potential.  Through AIESEC, the ASK Project is able provide them with new opportunities.”

Liu credits the Ghanaian people for inspiring her to continue doing more for the world, and AIESEC for creating a platform for change through internship opportunities.  If you feel passionate about making a difference in the world, visit the AIESEC SFU booth in the AQ near Mackenzie Café from October 24 to October 28, 2011 between 10:30am-2:30pm to find out how you can get involved!

 By Manisha Dutta