Dates: Tentatively between June 1 - July 31
Place: Lahore, Pakistan
For questions contact Sharifa Halimi at shalimi@sas.upenn.edu
Lahore is known as the cultural hub of Pakistan – founded around 2000 years ago, its rich heritage is felt by visitors and residents alike. It is the second largest city in the country and the provincial capital of Punjab. Lahore offers a unique blend of historical and modern metropolitan areas. It has a dynamic vibe and is famous for its food, shopping malls, arts and music, Sufi shrines, and Mughal architecture. It is home to renowned educational institutions and is the center of governmental, non-governmental, media as well as corporate organizations. Students will not only have an enriching cultural experience in Lahore, but also learn about the socio-economic issues of developing countries and the steps that can be taken to resolve them.
Host Institution: Akhuwat is a Pakistani non-profit microfinance organization founded in accordance with Islamic principles of solidarity. Over the last eighteen years, Akhuwat has made an active effort to alleviate poverty in Pakistan through the provision of small interest-free (Qarz-a-Hasan) loans. These loans are given to the vulnerable poor - individuals that are particularly susceptible to falling below the poverty line, in order to facilitate their journey towards becoming self-sufficient. To this date Akhuwat has provided interest-free loans to 3.6 million families across Pakistan, making it the largest interest-free Microfinance organization in the World. The vision of the organization is to create a poverty-free society where individuals can live a life full of dignity.
To cater to the multi-dimensional issues of poverty, Akhuwat has diversified its impact domains to Healthcare, Education and Social Welfare for the marginalized (transgender, women, disabled, mentally-challenged) communities. Students will have the opportunity to utilize the expansive network of Akhuwat to not only get a hands-on understanding of the socio-economic issues in Pakistan but also conduct individual/group researches on topics pertaining (but not limited) to the realm of Development Economics, Sociology, Religion and South Asian Studies.
Visa Information:
Students are encouraged to determine their visa eligibility before submitting an application for their desired placement. Depending on citizenship and destination country, students may need a visa or work permit to participate in this internship. It is the student’s responsibility as a GRIP participant to determine their visa requirements and obtain a visa if needed.
Students may also access visa information and support through CIBT Visa.
Mentor: Usama Mahmud is a Penn alum - he graduated from University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) with a B.S.E. in Bioengineering (Class of 2010) and a Masters in Public Administration (Class of 2012). While at Penn, Usama served as the President of Penn Pakistan Society as well as the Vice Chair for International Affairs of GAPSA. He is a development sector professional with cross-cutting experience of working in both public and private domains. His areas of expertise include public sector reform, with a focus on education. He has worked closely with the Government of Pakistan as well as international organizations such as DFID, UN, and the World Bank. Usama has spearheaded large scale initiatives and reform programs, and is currently working with the Punjab Government in leading the education reforms in the province.
Program Dates: The program will tentatively run from June 1 - July 31
Program Length: 6 - 8 Weeks
Housing: Accommodation along with meals and local travel will be covered by Akhuwat. The Akhuwat Hostel is located within the premises of their main office in Gulberg - a central area of Lahore known for its safety and proximity to restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters and much more.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: CLOSED
What to Expect After Application Submission
The South Asia Center will review all complete applications for quality and eligibility and will share application materials with employers abroad within one week of each application deadline.
- Interviews for internship placements will take place any time in February or March. You will be scheduled for an interview via email, so please regularly check.
- SAC admission decisions will be announced to applicants in APRIL 2025.
- Accepted applicants need to commit to, or decline, the offer by one week after decision has been made through SAC.
Helpful Tips on Preparing Your Application
Reach out to Penn Career Services as you prepare your resume and cover letter/personal statement. Take advantage of the Career Services' service as soon as you are ready with a draft of your resume and personal statement. We encourage you to schedule an appointment with Career Services sooner rather than later.
We also recommend taking a peek at our SAC Blog, where previous students have submitted their reflections from previous years.