This summer, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto welcomed a delegation from Fo Guang University in Taiwan for a two-month overseas internship program designed to support experiential learning, professional development, and cross-cultural engagement.

Led by Assistant Professor Alice Wang of the Department of Communication, the six-member delegation included four student interns—Brett Chen from Information Applications, Vera Wang from Communication, Iris Chien from Product and Media Design, and Wesley Wang from Social Work—as well as Professor Wang’s daughter, Sophia.

The students are contributing to supervised projects across several areas of the temple’s operations, including library services, the Buddha’s Light Spiritual Care Team, information technology and communications, and social education programs. These placements allow them to apply knowledge from their respective disciplines while developing practical, interpersonal, and intercultural skills.

At a reflection session on July 23, the students shared what they had learned during their first month and expressed appreciation for the guidance and care provided by the temple’s monastics, staff, and volunteers.

Venerable Chueh Fan, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, encouraged the students to approach daily experiences with awareness and reflection. She explained that Humanistic Buddhism emphasizes applying Buddhist values to relationships, family life, work, and community engagement, helping people cultivate greater well-being and stability.

Alice Wang thanked the temple for serving as an overseas internship partner for the past three years. She noted that previous participants had strengthened their professional readiness and employability through international experience and engagement with culturally diverse communities.

Returning intern Vera Wang said the supportive environment and freedom to contribute creatively inspired her to participate for a second time. She added that the structure of temple life had helped her develop greater self-discipline and reflect more deeply on her future goals.

Iris Chien described becoming more confident in expressing her ideas and stepping beyond her comfort zone. Wesley Wang reflected on his work with the Spiritual Care Team and his observations of how cultural contexts shape children and families in Taiwan and Canada. Brett Chen gained experience in library operations, animation, display design, and event photography, describing the internship as both professional training and an opportunity for personal reflection.

In recognition of the program’s success in North America, Fo Guang University appointed Venerable Chueh Fan as an Associate Professor in its Department of Communication to support the supervision and continued development of future internship programs in Canada.