the first Internship

The First Internship (TFI) program offers paid internships and training for SaMi tutors to build career paths and goals by initiating and developing your own community service projects. The internship will be under SaMi’s faculty direction and can utilize SaMi's worldwide resources. It offers a unique opportunity to build a solid project, gain valuable experience, make a positive impact in your community, and develop leadership skills. 

 Applications will be evaluated based on their feasibility and potential impact. Successful projects will receive an award of $500 per project. For group projects, the cash award will be evenly divided among members. Additionally, winners will receive the following recognitions:

• Certificate of Achievement: Personalized certificate recognizing outstanding contribution and project completion.
• Mentorship Opportunities: Direct guidance and support from me throughout the project and beyond.
• Feature on SaMi Website and YouTube Channel: Showcase your projects and achievements on the SaMi website and YouTube channel.
• Opportunity to Present at SaMi Events: Present your projects at SaMi events, sharing experiences and insights.
• Letters of Recommendation: Enhance your letters of recommendation for college applications and future opportunities.

Networking Opportunities: Access networking events and opportunities with professionals and organizations within the SaMi network. 

To be eligible to apply, you (and your teammates, if applicable) must be a current or former SaMi tutor. If you are a prospective tutor, you must sign up for tutoring in the current Summer@SaMi Camp program. Past winners can apply again with new projects or continue their current projects. The TFI is open to both US citizens and international tutors. 

The internship will be year-long. We support both individual and group projects. You (or your team) apply for it in the summer, and the selected projects will take place during the current academic year. Summer is the only application period, so if you're interested, apply now or wait until next summer. We will regularly communicate with you (or your team) to help throughout the internship. After the internship, you can use your project to apply for scholarships, awards, or colleges. The TFI program is separate from the tutoring programs; you can do both or either over the year. 

View Past Winners. 

Each year, The First Internship empowers students to design and launch their own community service projects — and the impact speaks for itself. Across just one program cycle, our interns created high-impact, student-designed initiatives that reached communities locally, nationally, and even globally. Below is a snapshot of what our interns achieved:

• 2,000+ people directly served across all projects
  (including children, seniors, refugees, individuals with disabilities, and families) 
• More than 500 students taught in STEM, wellness, literacy, and tutoring programs 
• 100+ seniors supported through STEM-based enrichment 
• 200+ elementary school participants reached by Science Bus 
• 200 individuals with disabilities served through accessible STEM kits 
• 80 teens enrolled in mental health & wellness programs 
• 120 Vietnamese students taught STEM/English across rural and urban regions 
• 100+ individuals engaged at dental health community events 
• 50–60 youth impacted through STEM career speaker series
   

• 300+ volunteers mobilized across projects 
• Dozens of mentors engaged, including university faculty, physicians, dentists, fitness professionals, public-health organizations, and community leaders 
• Partnerships formed with: 
  • Claremont Colleges 
  • Boys & Girls Clubs 
  • Camp CAMP (serving 1,000+ individuals yearly) 
  • Multiple assisted-living facilities 
  • Local schools, libraries, and nonprofits nationwide
     

• 35% increase in science understanding among Science Bus students 
• 20% growth in 6th-grade math performance among refugee students 
• Self-reported increases from wellness participants: 
  • +3.5 stars in body image satisfaction 
  • +2 stars in overall confidence 
  • +3 stars in health & fitness knowledge 
  • –2.5 stars in stress levels
     

• 3,000+ combined social media followers gained across all projects 
• Thousands of website visits, including global reach across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East 
• 70+ donations collected for community service campaigns 
• Multiple organizations requested continued partnerships or program expansion
   

Interns reported major growth in:

• Confidence 
• Project management 
• Communication 
• Teaching & mentoring 
• Problem-solving 
• Community partnership building 
• Adaptability and long-term planning 

Many interns built teams, trained other youth, secured funding, and created systems to ensure their projects continue after the internship.

• Over 80% of projects plan to continue into next year 
• Many interns documented full procedures for future student leaders 
• Several interns began forming new chapters, websites, curricula, and training systems 
• Some applied for external grants (e.g., $1,000 Karma for Cara grant)
   

Students, parents, educators, and community partners praised projects for:

• Transforming student engagement in science 
• Improving seniors' cognitive and emotional wellbeing 
• Helping refugee students thrive academically and socially 
• Providing essential dental hygiene resources and education 
• Creating safe, supportive spaces for girls’ wellness 
• Increasing access to STEM learning for individuals with disabilities 
• Opening doors to career exploration for underserved youth
   

The First Internship isn’t just a program — it’s a launchpad for socially committed youth leaders. Our interns proved that with the right support, young people can:

• Build organizations 
• Teach and mentor others 
• Address inequities 
• Strengthen their communities 
• And create projects with real measurable impact

Please fill out The First Internship Application Form by the deadline (will be announced in the summer each year). The award will be announced in a week after the due date.