Internships at ACEI

Interning at the Association for Childhood Education International was more than just work; it was an interesting and humbling experience. The staff was very welcoming and supportive in my endeavors in and out of the office, giving me room for active learning and personal growth.

By attending advocacy meetings, The Children Budget Summit and other forums related to childhood education, I was not only able to get a taste of what ACEI has been doing over the years, but also understand and appreciate what it values today and strives to achieve in the future, which I believe is key. Also, attending a discussion held at the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Senate as well as sessions at The Brookings Institute, provided me with a fresh perspective on views and opinions related to international development and foreign policy.

Connecting and sharing ideas with educators at the International Institute for Education Diplomacy, an ACEI sponsored program, helped me to recognize and understand the efforts being made by individuals and other organizations on matters related to childhood education, which at the institute we collectively agreed should be made a top priority. The challenging nature and content of the program sparked moments of personal reflection, and most notably, infinite wisdom from all those that were a part of it. I remain grateful for the opportunity and most certainly miss the ACEI staff.

—Almas Ismail

Almas is from Kenya and currently studying economics at the The State University of New York, Buffalo. He hopes to pursue a career in international development.