Asia University Department of Psychology students complete internship providing psychological services to children exposed to domestic violence and human trafficking in New York City, USA
2024-03-11
Yu-Chi Liao (廖御圻), Ph.D.
Three Asia University Department of Psychology undergraduate students, 李晨旖, 楊宜緁, and 謝儀萱traveled to New York during winter break to complete a 5-week internship with Garden of Hope, an organization that serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking and exposed children. Garden of Hope targets helping Asian immigrant populations, who are some of the most vulnerable in New York City and provides services such as crisis intervention, case management, counseling, legal assistance, shelters, empowerment workshops, and children’s and youth services. The three interns expressed having a very informative, meaningful, and educational hands-on learning experience designing and providing intervention services for Garden of Hope’s clients. After having completed this unique internship opportunity, they feel more motivated to continue to pursue opportunities that will give them hands-on experience. In addition, the students were able to visit famous sites in New York City for the first time – many of the ones that are seen in the movies!
Dr. Kristine Lin （林美琪）of the Department of Psychology worked together with Garden of Hope to create and organize this internship opportunity specifically for Asia University’s Department of Psychology students. She secured funding from Ministry of Education and Asia University’s International College through the 學海築夢 program to help offset the costs of sending the students abroad to complete the internship. Given the success of the first cohort of Asia University student interns, it is hoped that there can be a continued partnership between Asia University and Garden of Hope in the future, further promoting international partnerships for Asia University as well as promoting the field of psychology.
