FAQs

Over 300 young people have completed the internship program in Tennessee. After hearing their questions, we assume you may have some of the same. Please, don’t hesitate to call the Project Transformation office if you need any further information or would like to connect with a young person who has completed an internship with us.

Summer Internship FAQs

• Is this a paid summer experience?
• Yes, summer interns are paid for their 9 weeks of work, plus housing and meals..
• What are the dates for this commitment?
• This summer job is 9.5 weeks from late May to late July. Exact 2024 dates will be announced shortly. It includes a week of training and 8 weeks of running the summer day camp program.
• Where will I serve? How many kids will be at my program site?
• We have summer programs in 4 cities! Nashville, Memphis, Clarksville, and Murfreesboro. Our programs are housed in churches that care about connecting with their neighbors, so you'll get to help them do that. We usually serve 40-60 kids at our elementary sites and 15-20 children at our middle school sites.
• Will I get to choose which city I'm in?
• During the application and hiring process, we'll ask you about your top preferences, but we'll place you where your skills and passions best meet what we know about the communities we work with.
• What will my team be like?
• Our interns serve on teams of 3-8 young adults who work together for the entire summer. Each team is diverse, so you'll get to know people who are different from you.
• What will my role be on my team?
• Our interns take on different roles to make the summer successful, including roles related to intern community housing and the summer day camp for kids. You might help lead the reading program at your day camp, you might help plan weekly intern worship, you might shop for supplies for your team, and/or you might help share PT's story in the wider community. We are absolutely a cross-functional team where everyone does a little bit of everything.
• What happens on Fridays?
• Friday Experiences! Our internship is unique because you work with kids Monday-Thursday, but on Fridays, we turn our attention to you during our Friday Experiences. We'll explore vocations in ministry and service through field trips and dialogue with lay and ordained leadership of various partnering non-profit organizations, businesses, and United Methodist institutions. This is a crucial time to make connections between your faith and your career, while learning practical insights in leadership from a faith perspective.
• Will I need to provide my own transportation to work?
• Maybe! All Summer Program Interns are responsible for their own transportation to and from their job sites. If you do not have a car, it is possible that someone else on your team would be willing to give you a ride if you are contributing to the cost of the transportation.
• I play guitar! I sing! I have art supplies to share!
• Fantastic! Please bring your musical talent, art genius, and creativity! You'll have lots of opportunities to share your creative skills with the kids/youth at your site and the intern community.
• Where will I live? Will I have a roomate?
• You'll live with other young adult interns, most likely on a college or university campus. Living together gives interns an opportunity to get to know each other, support each other, and explore their faith together. You might have a roommate, or a couple of roommates, depending on housing arrangements. Don't worry - it's fun!
• What do I need to bring? There are probably a few things I shouldn't bring, right?
• Intern housing is like living in a college dorm. We'll give you a more specific packing list once you're hired, but plan to bring bedding, toiletries, casual clothes to wear each day at site (including gym shoes), and church clothes. If you have a laptop computer, you'll appreciate having it with you. You can bring your cell phone, but we ask that you be mindful of your setting and refrain from cell phone usage during meals, worship and other events, and the summer camp program. If you have a car, it's nice to have it. If you don't, that's okay! You won't need a mini refrigerator or microwave (you'll have access to these). Also, don't bring a TV, candles, or extension cords.
• Will I have internet access?
• Yes!
• Do I get any time off? What about Juneteenth and the 4th of July?
• You'll have Friday evenings and all day Saturday to rest, hang out with friends, and explore the city. We observe the 4th of July and Juneteenth holidays, so you'll have those days off, too.
• What about meals?
• Good news! We have that (mostly) covered! We'll provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner on most days. Dinners are special, because we have volunteer groups who love meeting and feeding our interns. You'll definitely want to check out restaurants and markets in the city, so you're on your own for Friday lunch through Sunday lunch.
• Can I take a summer class or work an additional job part time?
• No. PT summer interns must commit to full-time service. And you'll need your spare time for rest and replenishment, not school work or another job. That said, course credit may be possible, so check with your advisor to see if our internship could be counted for credit.
• Can I get time off for weddings, special circumstances, etc? How should I request it?
• Maybe. Taking additional time off is not encouraged because it disrupts our programming; however getting time off for special events is possible, but you must make a request to PT staff as soon as you know the dates. Time off is granted depending on the nature of the activity and adequate advance notice. We recommend that such requests are discussed during the interview process, whenever possible.

One Year Fellowship FAQs

• Is this a paid Fellowship experience?
• Yes. Fellows receive paychecks distributed on the 15th and the last day of the month. The first check is issued on June 15th. Fellows also receive room and board.
• What are the dates for this commitment?
• Our Fellowship program spans roughly one year, beginning in late May and ending in late April of the following year. Fellows serve in the summer program and then transition into leadership roles in our Afterschool Program.
• Where will I serve? How many kids will be at my program site?
• Fellows serve in our Nashville-based programs. During the summer, we have 50-80 kids at each site. During the afterschool program, we have 25-30 kids.
• Is housing provided?
• Yes! Our Fellows live together in intentional Christian community.
• Can I take a classes or work an additional job part time?
• During the school year, fellows may take classes or have a job in addition to their fellowship as long as it does not conflict with their service and obligations to PT. Keep in mind that full-time fellows serve about 40 hours per week. However, during the summer, the time commitment to our program will not permit any class or part-time job.
• What about my student loans?
• Full-time Fellows may be able to adjust/defer student loan payments while serving with Project Transformation Tennessee. To check your eligibility, contact your loan servicer, i.e. the company you send student loan payments to.