Douglass-O’Connell-Lewis Global Interns Complete Summer Program in Ireland

Three students sponsored by the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation have completed their summer internships in Ireland as part of CIEE’s Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Internship Program.

Sarah Darabadey, Hayley Ponds, and Sophia Wade were selected as Douglass-O’Connell-Lewis Global Interns, a designation recognizing JLMLF-sponsored students within the larger CIEE cohort.

Michael Collins, JLMLF’s Board Chair and Interim President, traveled to Dublin for the closing ceremony and congratulated the interns on completing the program.

“Congressman John Lewis would be so very proud of you,” Collins told the interns. “Whenever Congressman Lewis was asked what gave him hope in a challenging and changing world, he always said it was young people.”

The 2026 JLMLF-sponsored interns completed placements connected to their academic interests, career goals, and commitment to service:

• Sarah Darabadey, a Georgia State University student majoring in Business Management, interned with Open Hive.
  

• Hayley Ponds, a Spelman College student majoring in Pre-Medicine, interned with Safety Net Primary Care.
  

• Sophia Wade, a Spelman College student majoring in Political Science, interned with The Innocence Project.

  
  

The Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Internship Program honors two iconic leaders in the global movement for freedom, equality, social justice, and economic mobility by preparing young professionals for future and career success. Through JLMLF’s sponsorship, the Douglass-O’Connell-Lewis designation connects this global internship experience to Congressman Lewis’s legacy of courage, civic engagement, nonviolent social change, and building the Beloved Community.

When they were selected for the program, each student reflected on the legacy of Frederick Douglass and Daniel O’Connell and the values they hoped to carry into the experience.

“The lives of Frederick Douglass and Daniel O’Connell inspire me because they show how powerful community can be in shaping both individual courage and collective change,” said  Sarah Darabadey.

Hayley Ponds said, “Frederick Douglass and Daniel O’Connell inspire me to make change not only in my own life but in the lives of those around me. Their legacy influences the path I am carving for myself and how I choose to face challenges and advocate for others.”

“Through their work, Frederick Douglass and Daniel O’Connell were able to use storytelling as a positive force for change and advocacy,” Sophia Wade added. “I try to emulate that in my own life, particularly through speech and debate, where I remind others that we are storytellers and advocates in every space we enter.”

Collins also emphasized the connection between the program and Congressman Lewis’s lifelong belief in young people.

“Congressman Lewis believed deeply in the power of young people to create positive change and build what he called the Beloved Community,” said Collins. “We are honored to support these Douglass-O’Connell-Lewis Global Interns. Through international experiences like this, they gain new perspectives, strengthen their leadership skills, and carry forward Congressman Lewis’s enduring call to make Good Trouble in service of a more just and equitable world.”

This year marked the second year the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation has sponsored students in the program, which provides high-achieving college students with an eight-week international internship experience in Dublin, Ireland. Through the program, students gain professional experience with Ireland-based organizations while participating in academic, cultural, and leadership-development activities.

Congratulations to Sarah, Hayley, and Sophia. We look forward to seeing how they continue to carry forward the spirit of Good Trouble.