Megan Bennett

Summer 2016 I interned with a Sparks Charity in London through Dream Careers. Through this program, I lived and worked in London, England for 8 weeks.

 

Sparks Charity raises money to fund pioneering children’s medical research. They support clinicians and scientists who have the skills, innovation and passion to improve children’s lives forever. For such a small team of about 25 employees, they have done such amazing work in the field of children’s research. The imitate environment allowed me to learn about all the division of the charity and their roles in advancing their mission.

 

I worked as a Communications Intern. My role and highlights are listed below:

 

• Utilized CRM software to engage and maintain relationships with charity supporters

• Wrote charity newsletters and articles

• Aided in a beneficiary event that fundraised a net £9,250

• Transcribed medical interviews to be more readable for general public

• Established connections to potential sponsors to the charity

• Solidified partnership that saved the charity about £2,000 in taxis

 

Aside from the internship, living in London was phenomenal. The city has a rich, diverse culture that can only be understood by experiencing it. Although we both speak English, England is certainly an ocean away in its differences from the United States.

 

Working with such a dedicated and supportive group of people was exactly what I needed for my first internship. During those 8 weeks I learned how to navigate the professional world, the booming city of London, and 40 hour weeks. I’ve gained the transferrable skills of corporate communication, fundraising, event management, and the art of British slang.