During the first weeks of June, the Summer 2025 Peace Boat US intern cohort kicked off their United Nations journeys with the first of many visits to its headquarters in New York City. These early visits have given interns a chance to explore the iconic building, dive into the rich history of the United Nations, and get a feel for the spaces they’ll be working in and engaging with throughout the summer.
On June 4, Intern Maya Raman from Tufts University took part in a guided tour that brought her face-to-face with the heart of global diplomacy. She had the opportunity to step inside some of the UN’s most significant chambers—including the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Trusteeship Council, and the legendary General Assembly Hall. For Maya, who is passionate about international affairs, being in these historic spaces was nothing short of a dream come true. She also found inspiration in the UN’s exhibit on disarmament, which echoed many of Peace Boat’s core missions around peace and demilitarization. The tour wrapped up with a refresher on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering an important reminder of the global goals guiding much of Peace Boat’s work.
On June 11, after receiving their United Nations’ ground passes, through Peace Boat’s special accreditation to the UN’s ECOSOC, a group of Peace Boat US interns spent the day working from the halls of the United Nations. Interns Signe Smith from Harvard University and Alejandro Forero Rey from Tufts University noted the diversity of the people they encountered inside the UN and how accessible the building was. Forero Rey also acknowledged how it felt a bit intimidating to navigate such an important space as interns new to this organization. Intern Ruth Ijomor, also from Tufts University, felt at ease at the UN and enjoyed exploring the building.
The following day brought even more excitement as the interns had the chance to attend a UN Security Council and UN General Assembly meeting, which gave them a front row seat to what high-level international discussions look like. Later, the group joined Tufts Career Center Advisor Kelly Roberts for an organized afternoon touring the UN and meeting with John Ericson, who formerly worked for the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the UN Human Resources department. It was a chance to check in and reflect on their experiences so far with their University advisor.
Intern Michael Onysko from Tufts University was moved by the UN’s disarmament exhibit and the powerful educational displays on the dangers of war. “It really highlighted the important mission of the UN in disarmament,” he shared.
Intern Cecilia Polanco, who graduated from Duke University, also visited the UN for the first time. They said, “I saw beautiful art and the history of our struggle for peace as humans. I was grounded by the emphasis on youth and civil society—meaning us regular people—being essential in the work of the UN.” They emphasized the importance of advocacy rooted in human dignity, environmental health, and uplifting the youth as changemakers and leaders.
These early visits to the UN have not only deepened the interns’ understanding of the global issues Peace Boat addresses, but also reminded them of their power as young people as they step into these international spaces with a vision for a more peaceful and sustainable world.