Discovering the Power of Culture: My Summer at UNESCO Santiago

Stepping Into Culture: My Role and the Team

Over the summer, I interned at the Regional Office of UNESCO in Santiago, Chile. I was assigned to the Culture sector, a field entirely new to me. The experience sparked both curiosity and excitement.

The Culture team at UNESCO Santiago works to protect UNESCO World Heritage sites in Chile and to safeguard indigenous languages and cultures, notably those of the Mapuche people. In the early weeks of my internship, my role centered on supporting the team through reviewing internal reports and providing feedback. As I settled in and my background and experience became clearer to the team, I was entrusted with a main deliverable: conducting research on potential avenues for initiating and expanding cooperation between Korea and the UNESCO Santiago Office.

At first, I admit I felt a bit disappointed to be tasked with researching Korea’s contributions to cultural heritage preservation – instead of working directly on local projects in Chile. After traveling all the way to Chile, I was initially unsure how meaningful this project would feel.

However, as I dug deeper into the research, my perspective shifted. I discovered innovative examples and success stories from Korea that I had never paid attention to before, even as a Korean myself. Learning about advanced restoration techniques like 3D scanning of damaged artifacts, digitalizing disappearing forms of intangible heritage, and the creative use of AR and VR in museums to create immersive, interactive visitor experiences was genuinely fascinating. What started as a somewhat routine research task soon became one of the most engaging and meaningful parts of my internship, helping me appreciate the breadth and creativity of Korea’s approach to safeguarding culture.

Beyond the Office: Experiencing Chile’s Living Heritage

Interning in Chile provided me with countless opportunities to engage directly with the country’s diverse culture and stunning landscapes. Chile offers breathtaking diversity, from deserts in the north and glaciers in the south, to the remote island of Rapa Nui in the west and the Andes mountains in the east, so I made it a point to explore these stunning landscapes with fellow interns each weekend and truly make the most of my time there.

The trips were nothing short of memorable: gazing up at an endless sky filled with stars in San Pedro de Atacama, the world’s driest desert, was a humbling experience. Valparaíso’s colorful murals and breathtaking scenery left a lasting impression, making its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site feel all the more meaningful. Visiting Rapa Nui National Park, famed for its mysterious Moai statues, was like stepping into another world.

While these adventures were thrilling, they also had sobering moments; learning that both Valparaíso and Rapa Nui suffered from devastating fires in recent years brought home the urgency of the Culture team’s work. The knowledge that the team was actively implementing Heritage Emergency Fund projects to prevent and mitigate future disasters made me proud. Knowing that my contributions, however modest, may support ongoing international heritage preservation felt rewarding.

Cultural Encounters: Meaningful Moments and Reflection

One especially unforgettable moment of my internship was attending the 200th anniversary commemoration of the Tapihue Treaty between the Chilean government and the Mapuche people. The event featured the introduction of the book “De la fuerza de la palabra a la palabra forzada (From the power of the word to the forced word)”, which poignantly suggests that the treaty had not always been honored as intended. Despite this complex and painful history, I found it remarkable and deeply moving that such a ceremony was held in the Chilean National Congress Library — a powerful symbol of reflection, openness, and a willingness to confront past injustices and work towards reconciliation.

The same spirit of honesty and humility in facing history resonated deeply during my visit to the Memory and Human Rights Museum. Instead of concealing its painful past, Chile chooses to acknowledge and remember it, which I found profoundly admirable and inspiring.

During the event, I also had the opportunity to meet and briefly speak with Mapuche people, as well as to try traditional Mapuche food. This experience opened my eyes to how cultural diversity and collective memory can enrich a nation’s soul and resilience.

Changing Perspectives: Seeing Culture’s Essential Role

Before this internship, my focus in international development was largely on humanitarian aid and the basic Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as poverty, education, and gender equality. I had never deeply considered the indispensable role that culture plays in sustainable development. Spending eight weeks in Chile, and working up close with people passionate about heritage, broadened my perspective. I began to appreciate the profound ways culture shapes individual lives and collective identities. Initiatives from the Mondiacult 2022 showed me that culture is increasingly recognized globally as a core objective for sustainable development, inspiring me to see access to culture as a right, not a privilege.

This shift in perspective has transformed both my personal and professional outlook. I now see culture not as an afterthought, but as a vital pillar of sustainable growth and human dignity. My time at UNESCO Santiago gave me invaluable lessons, shaping my ambition to help ensure that everyone can benefit from and celebrate their cultural heritage. I am deeply grateful to the Harvard Center for International Development (CID) and UNESCO Santiago for making this learning journey possible.