HANCOCK, Mich. (WLUC) – Interns from Europe are assisting seniors across the western U.P. for a full year through Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly.
Two interns are from France and three are from Germany. This is part of a program that allows high school graduates to travel abroad and volunteer during their gap year before college. The interns’ goal is to visit 20 isolated ‘forever friends’ twice a month, giving them companionship and help.
“Our forever friends just love meeting these new interns from France and Germany,” LBFE Executive Director Carol Korpela said. “And they’re always sad when they leave at the end of the year, but they know that they’re going to be meeting new ones every fall.”
The program has been active since 2008, starting with one German intern with help from the World Horizon Organization. In 2017, Little Brothers began to work with its parent organization in Paris, Little Brothers of the Poor, allowing French interns to participate.
The interns’ time here comes with new experiences.
“They got to experience their first Thanksgiving,” Korpela continued. “We had a wonderful celebration, and they helped with everything from preparing to cleaning up.”
One of the interns is Julie Lecoq from France. She has been in the area for a month, visiting seniors in Baraga County. She says that she’s been aiming to improve her English and is enjoying her time visiting with the seniors.
“I love it because of all of their stories to share,” Lecoq said. “And they all have different origins. Some of them are born and raised here, some in other countries, so it’s really interesting.”
Another intern is Rasmus Jacobsen from Germany. He has been in the U.P. for nearly three months, and visits seniors in Ontonagon County. He notes how expressive many of the people he has met have been.
“Americans are very open and just like talking to strangers,” Jacobsen said. “And in Germany, we aren’t like this, and I really like it, and I want to bring that to Germany.”
The interns are now preparing to visit and help out seniors as Christmas grows nearer.
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