FRONTIER INTERNSHIP IN MISSION involves young people in two-year projects, in contemporary situations (“frontiers”) where the witness of the Christian gospel is needed, dealing with significant cultural, religious, economic, social and political issues.

Communities which want to receive an intern propose a project to FIM. Individuals may apply to FIM if they are currently part of a community engaged in justice concerns. Communities which want to send an intern to another region may also apply to FIM. Projects are developed through a variety of ecumenical and community-based organizations. Interns are identified to fill the requirements of newly proposed projects. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

Interns (between 20 and 35 years of age) are provided with travel cost and a subsistence allowance to support their work with a specific project. The receiving organization provides additional modest support. After a two-year period with a receiving organization, interns return to their sending organization for a one-year “re-entry” project which is also funded by FIM. Interns are responsible to the FIM International Coordinating Office, to the receiving and to the sending organizations. Letters of agreement are developed between all parties of the internships.

Planning of internships are jointly carried out with sending and receiving organizations. Receiving organizations are expected to produce an evaluation of the internship after completion of it. Monitoring of interns is done primarily by the receiving organization and the FIM director. Each intern does a self-evaluation at the end of his/her internship. Officers, FIM staff and finally the ICC evaluate the internship and the program performance on a regular basis.

The strategic partnerships established with a number of ecumenical organizations (World Council of Churches, World Student Christian Federation, Regional Ecumenical Organisations) —as well as women’s movements, unions and a great number of NGO’s which have participated in the programme during the past four decades— allow FIM to benefit from a world-wide wealth of contacts and relationships, enhancing its capability to pursue its goals with the minimal possible staff. This capability is strengthened by the presence of the headquarters in Geneva, the most important crossroads of the ecumenical movement.