Complaint Letter #9 about AIESEC Kolkata!

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to outline my concerns about AIESEC Kolkata and in particular my experience as an AIESEC development intern from 2 January 2010 to the 13 February 2010.

I initially had communication difficulties with my AIESEC contacts from Kolkata. My TN manager did not respond to several of my emails before I left New Zealand regarding an airport pick-up, so I had to email several other AIESEC Kolkata committee members. Finally the AIESEC Kolkata committee president responded to say that someone would be at the airport to meet me but unfortunately not until I was already in transit in Singapore. When I arrived in Kolkata, there was a taxi driver with my name waiting for me. He duly took me to the intern apartment, but also grossly overcharged me.

The intern apartment was sub-standard. There was no hot water, no beds (only thin mattresses on the concrete floor), all the toilets were badly leaking, and it was filthy. Attempts to rectify these issues with AIESEC Kolkata were futile. We also had on-going problems with our apartment locks, which compromised our security. On several occasions AIESEC Kolkata refused to pay for locksmith services, instead insisting that the interns were obliged to pay for apartment maintenance.

A few days after I arrived in Kolkata, my TN manager informed me that my internship had fallen through, and that there was no work organised for me. He said that he would make an effort to find me another internship, but a few weeks passed and nothing eventuated. I ended up approaching another NGO myself to organise my own volunteering experience.

I met only a couple of AIESEC Kolkata members during my 6-week stay there. There was no orientation on arrival to Kolkata and no interns were invited to take part in any AIESEC Kolkata events.

At least 3 or 4 other foreign interns during my stay returned to their home countries within a couple of days of arriving in Kolkata, and many more returned weeks early because the conditions and jobs did not match those promised in the TN contract.

I have contacted my local AIESEC committee and requested that they cease to send interns to AIESEC Kolkata, so long as they continue to provide such a poor service. I urge you to ensure that no future AIESEC interns in Kolkata have similar negative experiences to mine.

Regards,

E.M.