Three Months, Countless Memories

Farewell to Our Interns

Over the past three months, five bright and dedicated interns became part of our FNF family. From political conferences in Jordan’s cities to regional events that brought together voices from across MENA, they have been by our side—learning, contributing, and making memories that will stay with us. Beyond their hard work, they filled the office with laughter, curiosity, and the energy that only interns can bring.

This farewell is also a milestone:

• For Zaina, Jinan, and Farah, this internship marked the end of their third and final year with us.
• For Rosette and Esraa, this was the close of their second year — with one more year still ahead before their FNF journey wraps up.

Getting to Know Their Journey

To mark the end of their three-month internship, we asked each of them a few fun and meaningful questions:

• What has been their most memorable moment?
• Which project or task they feel proud of?
• The funniest or most unexpected story they’ll take with them.
• An emoji that best captures their experience.
• And finally, a shout-out to a colleague who made their journey special.

Their answers tell a story not just about what they learned, but also about the spirit of teamwork, mentorship, and joy that defines our office.

Zaina Al Sharabi

During her internship, Zaina had the chance to travel across Jordan — from Irbid and Mafraq to Karak — where she helped organise political conferences. These moments, amongst the many highlights of her three-year term with FNF, offered unique perspectives and turned into enriching experiences, she reflected.
She particularly enjoyed contributing to large-scale MENA events, describing them as both exciting and rewarding. “They brought together participants from across the region, and I learned so much from such a diverse group of people.”

Not all moments were serious — Zaina recalled a funny episode in Karak, when the mayor refused to believe she was one of the conference coordinators because of her age and appearance. “I had to show him proof that I really was!” she laughed.

For her, the 👩‍💻 emoji summed up her time at FNF, balancing projects with her thesis. And if she could give a special shout-out, it would go to Yasmeen Alnajdawi, the MENA Project Coordinator, whom she described as a mentor and guide: “She supported me every step of the way, involved me in her projects, and shared advice that I will carry throughout my career.”

Jinan Farwaji

Looking back on her internship, Jinan highlighted the variety of events she attended across Jordan, from Ajloun to the Dead Sea. “Each one was unique in the experience it gave me,” she said, noting how much she valued meeting diverse participants and understanding their perspectives on the issues being discussed.

One of the milestones for her was co-organising the “Rural Roadmaps” event with the EU “PAVE” Project. “It was the first time I took on such a big responsibility,” she shared, recalling how proud she felt after successfully managing her tasks and delivering opening remarks each day.

Jinan also carried fond memories of light-hearted moments in the office. “One of the funniest times was when we were all overwhelmed with work and decided to play some music to lighten the mood — I couldn’t stop laughing at how silly we all were in coping with the stress,” she recalled.

For her, the ☕️ emoji summed up internship life — a nod to the countless iced coffees that fueled long summer days. And if she could thank one person, it would be Lilian Haddad, the Project Manager for the Refugee Desk, her supervisor. “She guided me with patience and encouragement, pushed me to grow both personally and professionally, and always created a safe space for support and meaningful conversations.”

Farah Al Shobaky

For Farah, one of the most memorable milestones of her internship was stepping out of her comfort zone during her very first event with NauSim. “It marked the first time I really pushed myself, and I’ll never forget it,” she recalled.

She took special pride in contributing to the Pizza Talk project, watching it grow from a simple idea into a well-loved initiative that continues to thrive. “It’s rewarding to see that something we worked on is still going strong two years later.”

Of course, not every moment was serious. Farah laughed as she remembered one particularly hectic day when the workload piled up so much that she ended up working from under the desk. What began as a desperate attempt to keep going quickly turned into amusement, and soon the office was filled with laughter. “We couldn’t stop laughing at the sight,” she recalled.

If she had to summarise her internship with one emoji, it would be 👯‍♀️ — a symbol of the friendship and teamwork she shared with her fellow interns, Zaina and Jinan. “The experience wouldn’t have been the same without them; we always supported each other and were inseparable.”

Her final shout-out went to Haytham Al Tawalbeh, the Regional Head of Communication & Social Media, whom she described as patient, supportive, and always approachable. “He felt like a big brother to us — generous with his advice, quick to bring laughter into stressful moments, and kind enough to let us use his office for three months,” she shared.

Alongside our three third-year interns, Rosette Haddadin and Esraa Al Batayneh completed their second year with us. Their journey with FNF isn’t finished yet—one more year still lies ahead before their internships come to a close. This summer gave them the chance to take on new responsibilities, learn from colleagues, and leave their own mark on our projects.

Rosette Haddadin

For Rosette, the most memorable part of her internship was being actively involved in FNF’s events—especially the 40th anniversary celebration. “Being part of such a milestone, helping with preparations, and seeing the impact of the Foundation’s work first-hand made the experience truly unforgettable,” she reflected.

She took particular pride in contributing to the planning of the anniversary celebration, from assisting with logistics to reaching out and inviting guests. “It was exciting to be part of such a high-profile project and to see all our efforts come together successfully.”

Not all moments were formal. Rosette laughed as she recalled her first encounter with the office coffee machine: “I completely couldn’t figure out how to use it—it turned into a comedy show as colleagues tried to guide me, and we all ended up laughing.”

The ✨ emoji, she said, best captured her internship experience: enlightening, inspiring, and full of new ideas and opportunities. Her shout-out went to Haytham Al Tawalbeh, whom she described as approachable and supportive. “Learning with him was not only fun but also effective—he always explained things clearly, patiently, and with understanding, which made my experience much more enriching.”

Esraa Al Batayneh

Esraa’s most memorable experiences came from the wide range of events she attended during her internship — from GenPolitik and MENA MediaHub to the Free Youth Course and the MENA Arab League Simulation, always alongside her fellow interns.

Esraa was especially proud of her contributions to FNF’s design work. “It’s been amazing to help shape the visual identity of different projects,” she shared. Among her highlights were designing the logo and stationery for the MENA MediaHub project, creating a logo for NYRI, a project she feels deeply connected to, and developing certificates, printables, and graphics for the Free Youth Course. Each task, she said, allowed her to add a creative touch to initiatives of different scales and impact.

It wasn’t all work — some moments still make her smile. Esraa remembers the day she accidentally walked into a glass door, mistaking it for open. “It was such a clumsy moment, and everyone in the office turned it into a running joke for days,” she said, recalling the light-hearted memory.

If she had to capture her experience in one emoji, it would be 🌍, reflecting the chance to connect with people from different backgrounds and perspectives, and the rewarding opportunities to build meaningful networks across sectors.

Her shout-out went to her supervisor, Gloria Halasa, the Jordan Communications Officer, who made her internship especially meaningful. “She gave me tasks aligned with my major, encouraged my creativity, and was always supportive, caring, and considerate,” Esraa shared. She also thanked Haytham AlTawalbeh for being consistently welcoming and encouraging whenever they worked together. “I learned so much from both about communication and visual identities, and I’m truly grateful for that.”

As we bid farewell to this year’s internship cycle, we carry a mix of gratitude and pride.

For Zaina, Jinan, and Farah, this chapter closes after three remarkable years. For Rosette and Esraa, we look forward to seeing them back for their final year. Their three months with us may have flown by quickly, but each has left a mark on our projects and on us as a team.

From endless iced coffees to the countless hours spent in our office, we’ll remember their presence with a smile.

To our interns: thank you for the dedication, humour, and creativity you brought into our days. We wish you all the success ahead—you’ll always have a place in the FNF story.