August 2019

Dear Friends of APF,

It's with great excitement that I write this inaugural memo as APF's new President. I am fortunate to join an amazing team of staff and volunteers and a Board of Directors whose dedication to the APF mission makes our work possible.

I am also grateful for all the words of encouragement and support from friends far and wide. I heard from Americans of all backgrounds who wanted to learn more about the APF mission of community empowerment and building bridges between the United States and Pakistan. Especially meaningful were the emails from Pakistani American youth across the country asking for advice on how to make a positive difference in American society.

Despite the complex nature of U.S.-Pakistan relations, it's clear that a genuine commitment to improve people-to-people relations persists. I'm not surprised. Communities of collaborators and doers in both countries remain hopeful in spite of politics, and they are the foundation of APF's work for nearly a decade.
In this spirit, we are proud to announce the establishment of two new internship programs intended to foster interest and exposure to the APF mission.

The APF United Nations Internship Program will introduce interns to the inner workings and policies of the United Nations (UN) and the various ways that Pakistan-related policies are shaped by the UN community. This opportunity is made possible by APF's special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Affairs Council. Interns will work within the broader APF@UN program which facilitates interactions between Pakistani civil society and the United Nations. Prospective applicants should apply here.

APF's Engage DC Internship Program will provide interns an opportunity to learn about how Washington, D.C. works, from engaging the think tank community to networking, event planning, and writing op-eds. Interns will work on all aspects of APF programs and have the opportunity to meet and engage the broader community of experts working on building bridges between the United States and Pakistan. Prospective applicants should apply here.

We are also busy building out our presence in Washington, DC; expanding our reach across the United States; and rebranding and cultivating our online presence. Stay tuned for many new opportunities and developments in the months ahead.

I look forward to your continued support and hope you will consider making a donation to support the APF mission.

Shamila N. Chaudhary

President
American Pakistan Foundation

Building Bridges. Opening Minds. Empowering Communities.