Always considering the incredible opportunity that an internship abroad represents, I had long planned to explore options in Athens, knowing that I wanted to live in Greece and take a shot at learning the language. After finishing my bachelor’s thesis, I moved to Athens for a language course and enjoyed it so much that I began seeking opportunities in the city to complete my degree.

While searching for an internship, I initially contacted several bilateral organizations that had some connection to Germany. Although these opportunities were promising, I was eager to explore other options and looked for international institutions where English was the working language. Through my research, I eventually found the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation, where I interned for four months during the spring and summer, is very well-known in Greece, especially in Athens, for its impactful grant-making in the public health sector and its construction of a cultural center in Athens that offers many free activities. SNF is an international philanthropic foundation with offices in Athens, New York, and Monaco. The foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare, impacting people in over 130 countries.

Not knowing much about how foundations operate, I applied for a position in the Programs Department at the foundation’s headquarters. The internship program, which includes partnerships with sister philanthropies, offers positions to 34 young people twice a year.
The sense of community among the interns was one of the highlights of my experience. Building friendships with young Greek people was an unexpected but wonderful experience that I would have missed out on if I hadn’t participated in the internship program. For me, this is something to keep in mind when looking for an internship now – will I be part of a program or on my own? Both experiences can be valuable, but I found the emphasis the foundation placed on community-building activities, such as hosting events outside of work and educational seminars attended by all interns, to be particularly rewarding.

My day-to-day work mainly involved assisting tasks for program officers. I participated in initial calls with potential grantees, helped oversee the implementation of approved grants, and assessed their impact during the evaluation stage. The staff integrated us in a very welcoming way, often asking about our interests and including us in related projects. Supporting different grantees also involved assisting with internal processes such as writing proposals, preparing presentations, and more.

SNF offered a dynamic workspace, and we were often included in visits to grantees, where we could see how the work done in the office translated into real-world impact. Creating opportunities for people to experience art, receive healthcare, conduct research, or simply access basic human rights is central to the mission of a philanthropic foundation. Many days, I left these visits feeling energized and impressed by the diverse work the foundation supports. I gained a deeper understanding of the Greek NGO sector, spoke with impressive and hardworking individuals, and learned how NGOs operate differently in various countries and settings.
I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to intern at SNF and would recommend it to anyone. For me, the internship was a meaningful step in my career journey, but even more, it became about connecting with people I would not have met otherwise—connections that will stay with me through the friendships built and the knowledge passed on to me.

Tips for other interns

Preperation

I recommend you check all opportunities you might have and apply to various things. Especially when going abroad, I feel that this helps understanding the landscape of possibilities for internationals more.

Visa application

As an EU-Citizen this was no concern for me.

Internship search

I knew that I wanted to stay in Athens but had limited Greek skills, narrowing the possible partner institutions in a country that is more used to young people leaving for studies than the other way around. Therefore, I used friends, facebook groups and my own google research to find opportunities for me. The foundation is widely known in Greece due to their big grants; I checked the website and eventually found the internship program.

Apartment search

I used Stay in Athens, an agency catered to Erasmus people for my first apartment. The prices were good compared to Berlin standards – I also know people who used Airbnb, which is unreasonable in price in comparison and Facebook groups that are cheaper but less official and potentially less reliable if you are looking to book before.

Insurance

My partner institution took care of my insurance except for the liability insurance. As I was still insured with my parents at the time, I asked the insurance company, and they confirmed that the liability insurance includes all of Europe.

Other

If you decide to come after May/June, I would highly advise you to look for a room with air condition, as the city gets incredibly hot and houses are not isolated sufficiently. Looking for an apartment not on the ground floor is also important as cockroaches are a big problem.

Formalities on site

Telephone/Internet connection

If you book a furnished room, most likely internet will be included. If not, you can go to COSMOTE and get a router – internet is more expensive compared to Germany though. A mobile phone number is helpful for ordering and most companies will not allow you to do so without as they are afraid of additional costs. An E-SIM for 13EUR every two months has made my life much easier.

Bank/account opening

If you do not plan to stay for long, do not make the big effort of opening an account. It is a very bureaucratic process and once again very hard if you don’t speak Greek. The fees from Greek banks vary from 1.80- 3EUR. I was with an online bank that allowed me to withdraw money without additional fees on their side, 3 times a month. Regular German banks take up to 5EUR. Generally, cash is helpful, especially for tips, but card will almost always work.

Everyday life/leisure time

Going out options

Athens is full of opportunities to go out. There is always some festival, theater play or concert happening – or you can just go and meet your friends. Depending on what you are looking for you can decide on the area. From alternative political scenes like in Exarcheia to very posh bubbles in Kolonaki, you can decide for yourself where you want to go. Going out and being in a community of people, especially in summer, is a big part of the culture and a fun way to spend hot evenings.