Download - AIESEC Athens Buddy Guide
AIESEC Athens 12|13
The Buddy Guide
AIESEC Athens 12|13
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…
AIESEC Athens 12|13
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 ;)