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The Buddy Guide

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What being a buddy really means

Who is Buddy?

Did you ever think about how it feels like being alone in a

different country? Well it’s not only a unique life-changing

experience for the intern, but also challenging and

sometimes scary! In any case everybody needs someone to

rely on, a FRIEND, a BUDDY, a person who is always

ready to help by solving various problems. Also the

buddies guide the intern through their entire induction

process to their new environment. They are always

friendly, happy, active and positively energetic.

What is the Buddy system?

The buddy system is an effective way to ensure

that the induction of the intern into his/her new

environment is successful.

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What does the buddy system offer to an

intern? (Importance of the role)

The buddy system gives the opportunity to the interns to

get into a more comfortable environment

interact easier and get accommodated faster

be more easily integrated in the Local Committee and

the Greek culture

Why should someone become a buddy?

A person by being an intern’s buddy will develop his

communication skills and he/she will support the

development of the others. Also the buddy will get better

on events organizing and on crisis management. He/She

has the opportunity to live for a while into an everyday

cultural interaction, meet new friends, improve his/her

language skills and enrich network. In addition, the buddy

takes a part in AIESEC’s exchange purpose.

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What is a buddy up to?

The buddy ensures that the intern has a good

quality’s stay in Greece and he is fully satisfied.

He/she helps the intern to cover his everyday

needs, makes sure that the intern feels free to

discuss any problems or difficulties he might be

facing. The buddy shows to the intern the Greek

culture, mentality, everyday life and tradition.

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Which are the buddy’s duties?

What a buddy should do before intern’s

arrival?

1. The buddy should be informed about intern’s contacts.

2. Send an e-mail to the intern to introduce himself as well as

the whole LC (this e-mail should include the reception

booklet).

3. The buddy should ask the intern to refill a wish-list including

his expectations for the internship.

4. Also the buddy should learn the exact travel details, including

dates and time of arrival and departure.

5. The buddy should prepare a reception box , (in which the

intern will find anything he might need necessarily for the

first days like city map, phone SIM-card, tickets for the

buss, metro etc, magazine in English for tourists, printed

reception booklet, information contacts: AIESEC, hospitals,

red cross, police.)

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What a buddy should do during the intern’s

stay?

1. organize a group of LC members to pick the intern up from the

airport and welcome him.

2. has to make sure that the intern has settled down in the

apartment and he is not facing any difficulties with his

accommodation.

3. be aware of intern’s interests, habits and expectation due to

the wish-list.

4. introduce to the intern the everyday life of his city including

shops, university, the office of AIESEC, restaurants, internet

cafes, library, post office , even hospitals and pharmacies for

emergency situations.

5. arrange an expectation meeting based on the expectation-list

that the intern refilled, in order not only to be sure that the

reception’s activities are successful, but also the intern is

pleased

6. The buddy will get the direction about the local reception

activities and he has to be sure that the timelines are held.

7. Introduce him/her to other interns.

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8. Introduce him to the road route from accommodation to work.

9. Organize local reception activities every week (activities as

cooking night, traditional Greek night, movie night , karaoke

night, study tour, trips to other cities close by, board games

night, bowling night, parties, and finally a farewell/goodbye

party).

Competencies and skills to develop

1. Multicultural sensitivity & awareness

2. Communication skills

3. Tolerance & understanding

4. Flexibility & adaptability

5. Conflict & crisis management

6. Innovation & creativity

…Don’t you ever forget

that a FRIEND is the

best thing to HAVE and

the best thing to BE…

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You can be a perfect buddy!

Put yourself into your intern’s shoes and

you are ready to drive his life-changing,

powerful, unique, unforgettable experience

and be an integral part of it. You can make

the difference, so take the chance!

Application Process

If you want to live this experience and

become a Buddy, click here and

something amazing will appear ;)