International Blog

Kasandra, SOC, Alternatives, Sri Lanka, National Fisheries Solidarity, Human Rights Research Office

As I am nearing the end of my internship, I am grateful for being part of this wonderful experience. I learned a lot about Sri Lanka’s history and have developed many new skills that will be useful in my future career. Most of all, I am grateful for the people that I have worked with as it would not have been the same without them.

In the beginning, as most internships likely start, there was a lot of confusion and misunderstandings, especially because we were working from a distance. However, part of the internship is to put your communication and other skills to the test to adapt and overcome the issues. Once you master communication skills and time management, it’s smooth sailing from there. The new skills you will learn will be easy to adapt to and will be beneficial for your future.

For any future students who are thinking about doing an internship: just do it. It is a huge advantage to have, it will make your resume stand out and most importantly, it is your chance of helping an organization that needs help. In my case, my organization was working on women’s access to basic human rights, and I was fortunate enough to be able to choose what specific topic I wanted to do research on, which was women's vulnerabilities on the socio-economic level. This way, you can choose a topic that interests you! Once again, highly recommend it for anyone to take part in, you will not regret it.

Michael, POL, Mines Action Canada, Afghan Landmine Survivors Organization (ALSO)  Program Support Officer

The world continues to rapidly shift despite COVID-19’s attempts to slow it down. As the days continue to go on, the political landscape does not stay stagnant. One nation that has struggled to maintain the status quo is Afghanistan: suffering from the effects of both the Soviet and NATO intervention only 12 years apart. While the Soviet’s would take 10 years to withdraw their troops from the region, NATO forces still remain. Although it is a skeleton crew compared to what was originally deployed in the country, the remaining forces continue to provide training liaisons that will help Afghanistan forces maintain stability on a self-sufficient basis. The loss of the main NATO force may help morale in the West, but for the locals it has left them to fend for themselves against a rebuilt and vengeful Taliban.

As this is the current situation that threatens Afghanistan, NGO’s such as mine are propelled into a society which desperately needs them. The Afghan government continues to crack under the continued pressure of the relentless attacks by the fundamental terrorists. Despite the rapid advancement of issues of human rights and the overall economic infrastructure of the country, the Taliban continues to slow progress down to a grinding halt. This conflict has gone on for too long and has exhausted the Afghan government of its resources, consequently the Taliban has forced its hand and will now meet with state officials for peace talks.

While peace is something that Afghanistan desperately needs, it cannot give in to a return to a fundamentalist state. As the NGO’s stand against the loss of societal and economic progression, they continue to be at the negotiating table, in the streets and even in front of international governing bodies to make it clear that the Afghan people cannot concede their rights to these terrorists.

This internship has been so much more than experiencing a desk job in a virtual workplace. Having the opportunity to interact with the locals of Afghanistan, (a country I have researched countless times for many different projects) and understand their positions on subjects I have been writing on for two years has been invaluable for the future of my academic career.

Gillian, Conflict Studies and Human Rights, Mines Action Canada, Uganda Landmine Survivors Association, South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms

For my first six weeks of the internship, I worked for Mines Action Canada due to unforeseen circumstances that prevented me from working with my host organization. Since I have been living in Canada all my life, and consume Canadian media, learning about Canada was not part of my internship for these 6 weeks.

However, for the past three weeks, I have been working for South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms (SSANSA). One of my main jobs is to monitor the media and provide summaries for relevant articles to SSANSA. This has been very eye-opening for me, as I am keeping up to date on the current news in South Sudan and pulling relevant information to be summarized in a professional manner. I would have never kept up with South Sudanese news without this internship, so it is a good opportunity to really learn and understand the hardships and triumphs of another country.

Furthermore, it has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of how important SSANSA’s work and vision is. Reading about the issues that SSANSA works on, such as civilian disarmament, almost every day in the news shows me how much SSANSA is needed. Learning more about your host country will lead you to a higher appreciation for the important work your organization does.

Emilie, Conflict Studies and Human Rights, Forum of Federations, MENA Region

Now that we are two thirds of the way into this internship, I think it is fair to say we all have a pretty decent understanding of the projects we are involved in, and of the work our host NGOs continue to push forward. As I continue my work with the Forum of Federation’s Middle East North Africa Project team, I find myself reflecting on all the things I have learned, and all the activities I have been able to have a hand in working on. I can confidently say that the work done by the Forum contributes positively to the betterment of governance, women’s rights, inclusion, and so many other human rights issues in the MENA region, and the activities that the Forum’s country teams work to implement day in and day out target grassroots change, and positively impact the lives of so many people.

When I first started with the Forum, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, especially since this was to be a virtual experience. I was delightfully surprised to have so much hands on experience with so many different, amazing, teams and working on so many different projects. While I’m so glad to have had this experience, I hope I can continue to help work on projects of this nature once the internship is over. The Forum has opened my eyes to activities happening on the ground and in a field that I know I want to continue working in, and I am incredibly grateful for this experience.

Prattiga, POL, Alternatives, Palestine, Teachers Creativity Centre

I am currently working with the Teachers Creativity Centre based in Palestine. This internship has made me acutely aware of global inequalities.  In terms of managing the risks associated with COVID-19 , Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza have yet to have access to vaccinations. Meanwhile, I am fully vaccinated while safely working from home. Palestinians have been confronted with an increase in bombing, unlawful evictions, and overall violence this summer. In contrast, I have been able to enjoy the relative comfort of living with my family during the pandemic without fear.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the inequalities and contradictions in our global political and economic system. It has also revealed opportunities that have not been fully utilized until now. I am currently doing research on education in Palestine and will be conducting interviews with educators and others in the field in the coming weeks. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to connect with locals that have first-hand experience and knowledge. I know that with the checkpoints, safety concerns, and ongoing political unrest - it is unlikely that I would have been able to go to Palestine and work there in person.  International internships having been shifted to online have given opportunities to students in the West to work  and collaborate with organizations in parts of the world that are deemed ‘unsafe’ and ‘unstable’ in ways that seemed difficult before the pandemic. There have been moments of this internship that were tough and confusing, but nonetheless I find myself feeling very content and fulfilled with the work that I am doing. Overall, I am thankful for the experience that I likely would not have been able to take part in if it were not for the changes made in response to COVID-19.

Moudan, Criminology, Alternatives, Sudan, Al Alag, Research Officer

It would be an understatement to say that this first month has just flown by. This single month has been jammed packed with new experiences for me. In just over four weeks, I have been privy to important and impactful meetings that not only allowed me to learn about the importance of change through action, but also that social justice and fighting for the rights of people does not and cannot take a break – even during a pandemic.

Prior to my internship with Al Alag, I had zero experience with working in a COVID setting. Much of my experience has come from working with people on a face-to-face and it was difficult at first, to not only learn a new set of skills, but to also improve my own. Furthermore, the added benefit of seeing my research and analytical skills being put to good use in aiding the plight against workplace harassment for Sudanese women has opened my eyes to the fact that we have the power to create meaningful change – even if virtually.

Thank you to Al Alag for allowing me this opportunity and for allowing me to put my knowledge and skills to good use in fighting for a noteworthy cause. I am looking forward to what these next four weeks hold!

Sarah, ECH, Alternatives, Uganda,Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA)

The skills that I have developed within the classroom have proved to be exceedingly helpful in contributing to my experience in the workplace. As I am a fourth-year student in Conflict Studies and Human Rights, my academic studies have mostly pertained to international humanitarian law, social injustices, and international relations. For my internship I am a program and research support officer in the advocacy and communications division, with The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA). Our main headquarters is located in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. Many of my responsibilities entail assisting with the preparation and production of communication materials, providing support in developing and refining press, media and public statements, and providing any additional support for advocacy and projects that SIHA undertakes.

Many of the skills that I have learned in classes such as Theories of Conflict, Introduction to Women, Gender, and Feminism, and Introduction to International Human Rights Law and Institutions have all provided me with the skills that are required in my workplace. I have learned everything from critical thinking skills, academic writing, critical analysis, researching skills, and the ability to identify different theoretical perspectives and apply them to my work. A lot of my work as a program and research support officer pertains to qualitative writing and researching, many of the skills in which I have acquired from my Qualitative Methods in Conflict Studies and Human Rights course. I often critically analyze sources in which I gather from my research, summarize and support main arguments, as well as produce academic writing. Since a lot of the skills that I have learned pertain to my work, my program has provided me with an intellectual toolkit that I possess at my disposal.

My internship has also provided me with many experiences that I can take into my future. Working with a team has substantially improved my cooperation, coordination, and organization skills. By navigating deadlines with team members, coordinating workloads, and analyzing group projects, cooperation is vital in order to perform as a productive and reliable member of the team. The skills in which I have acquired from my internship and academic education have provided me with a skill set that I can use to redefine my future and take into further careers, as well as the ability to overcome challenges and adapt to new circumstances.

Victoria, ANT, Forum of Federations Sudan & Ethiopia

Hello everyone, I am Victoria and I am a fourth-year Anthropology with a minor in civil law student at the University of Ottawa. I am super excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the Forum of Federations as an Intern for the Director of Africa this summer.

It has been quite an enriching experience of which I believe is a continuous path on which I am embarking! Most interesting, I am an adventurous person, so I love travelling, meeting new people, hiking, skiing and the list goes on! So even though I am unable to meet my colleagues in Sudan/Ethiopia, I can still say the international experience is still alive and well at the Forum. Furthermore, I was featured on the Forum‘s social media for being one of the first interns, which is super cool!

One of the task have been assigned was creating online group platforms like closed Facebook groups etc. to create a multi-service platform for leaders on governance and peace. So there was training videos, chats, issue subgroups like fiscal versus constitutions, IGR, reference materials, etc., Weekly new training modules, coaching sessions, on governance, leadership etc.

Also, another cool activity I will be doing next week is attending a private event webinar series that will examine the issue of intergovernmental cooperation in multilevel systems by international experts from around the world. My responsibility here would be to write a publish worthy report on the main discussed topics of the event. Lastly, but not the least, I am writing a blog post on Federalism as a peace building tool, so stay posted! I would like to add that at the beginning of my internship the pace was quite slow and I was just doing weekly new briefs of Somalia and Sudan, but now it’s a complete 180 because I have so much to do with only a couple weeks left of internship. I wish I could stay longer to be honest because my experience this far at the Forum of Federations is a dream come true for me!

Michael, Political Science with a minor in Criminology, Mines Action Canada, Afghanistan, Afghan Landmines Survivors Association (ALSO)

Theory can only get a student so far. Conceptual learning of these theories is the main approach of the curriculum for most Universities While it may prove beneficial for academia, many jobs will not negotiate with inexperienced graduates. While the Co-operative Education branch may prove necessary for some students to fulfill this professional requirement, there is an alternative for an internship that is more than just another branch of government. This International Internship provides a type of experience which is unique in today’s job market. Pairing the student to a Canadian Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and then partnering them with a local NGO in the country of their choice. While not every country may be on the list, the vast number of choices can provide a level of experience in different regions around the world.

Currently I am working with Mines Action Canada and their partnership organization, the Afghan Landmines Survivors Association (ALSO). Although most positions are forced to become virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions, my internship would not take place given the current dangers and political instability in the region. This opportunity provides the student a chance to see the world from a completely different viewpoint, while staying safe at home. Despite having taken courses that cover the history and current political situation of Afghanistan, I can now ‘see it for myself’ through the experiences and beliefs of my supervisors and co-workers. I have learned a lot during my short time with the organization. As they continue to fight for the rights of disabled landmine survivors under threat of Taliban, I only hope to do my part effectively and efficiently for the future of a NATO-less Afghanistan, a sight not seen since 1999.

Afghanistan has struggled with its past. As the nation has been the battleground for two very destructive wars, it desperately attempts to rebuild. Both wars have left the nation struggling with the remnants of the conflicts’ legacy. One of the biggest legacies was the leftover cluster munitions and landmines which still continue to threaten the population to this day. ALSO’s staff are well aware of these dangers as the entire organization is comprised of landmine survivors. These people continue to fight for their own and many others’ rights and the continued education for the population to recognize those with disabilities as people too. The organization also sheds light on the issues that people with disabilities face in their daily lives and recognize that disabled women especially suffer from multiple oppressive structures of their society. As ALSO continues to champion rights and its idealized social progression to a troubled nation, they provide a huge impact to the societal development for the future of Afghanistan.

While I may not be making the biggest impact for the organization, my tasks are still engaging and informative which has kept me busy for the past few weeks of the internship. To experience see how Afghanistan progresses as a society in the face of such adversity and to actually be a small part of the process is unique and cannot be offered anywhere else.

Emily, Honours of Criminology, Centre d’étude de coopération internationale (CECI), Nepal, Prerana, Communications officer

I am currently moving into my fifth week as an academic e- volunteer working with CECI and their close partnering organization Prerana, and it has already been such a fulfilling and amazing experience. I am already dreading the end of this experience as I know it will continue to fly by. I have been working as a communications officer and have been able to practice and facilitate clear communication which is a very useful skill to acquire.

During my third year of my undergrad (this past school year), I had the opportunity to take more specific courses that I hold an interest towards. For example, I took courses that focused on gender, race and exclusion inequalities that exist in our society, which I became determined to actively advocate for. When I listened to the Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) presentation in the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) internship information call, I realized that many of their passions and values aligned with mine. I knew that this would be the perfect opportunity for me to make an impact on issues that I am strongly passionate towards, as CECI has been working since 1958 to reduce inequalities in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The people that I have had the privilege of meeting so far, including the university internship coordinators, the team members from CECI from both Nepal and Canada and the partner organization team have all been incredible and have helped me grow and develop new skills that will help me in my future endeavours.

Even though this internship experience is taking place through a virtual format, I still feel as though it is very possible to make positive changes and work on projects with people across the world while at a distance. All to say, there are issues that arise while learning and working online, whether it be meeting at irregular hours for meetings with the team based on time differences, not being able to fully immerse with the culture where the assignment is taking place, and unclear communication and expectations at times due to email being the main form of interaction. I continue to remind myself to make the best of every day during this experience because there are still so many rewards to attain. The support that has been provided to me through everyone at the university and CECI has been so helpful throughout my experience. So far, I am very pleased with the opportunity to do this virtual internship with CECI, and I cannot wait to visit Nepal one day soon hopefully!

Alyna, International Development and Globalization, Centre d’étude et de coopération internationale (CECI),  Nepal, SETU Nepal, Communications Officer

As I finish up the first half of my remote international internship with the Centre d’étude et de coopération internationale (CECI) and SETU Nepal, I find myself reflecting heavily on the various things I have learned and experienced thus far.

SETU Nepal is a small team that works with HIV positive women, as well as orphaned children in the Kathmandu Valley region of Nepal. The work they do is truly amazing and despite their limited personnel and resources, they have achieved so many great things. Not only do they run capacity building training programs for the women they work with, but they also run a small home for children, where they provide them with an education as well as teach them life skills like cooking and crafting.

Seeing all the amazing work that my host organization does and given the extremely difficult situations of those that they seek to help, I have oftentimes found myself feeling guilty. One of the main things I have been struggling with in terms of this guilt is how privileged I am. Through various attempts to navigate and reflect upon this privilege and my positionality as a white, middle-class, educated woman living in Canada, I find myself asking the same questions again and again. How can I possibly be any help as an intern? Who am I to even try to help? What if they don’t want my help?

At my first meeting with the beneficiaries of SETU, I was nervous that they would be put off by my presence as a white girl from Canada who does not speak their language. I sat there on the video call, smiling and nodding while the group chatted in Nepalese and my supervisor frantically typed a play-by-play translation to me in our WhatsApp chat, and I couldn’t help but feel guilty simply for being there. However, this guilt was quickly dissipated, as the women welcomed me with open arms and were happy to have me join them. What followed was 20 minutes of the women showing off their various works to me, ranging from handmade clothing and recycled items made from old rice bags, to knit headbands and strings of beads.

The kindness and positivity of the women I met with helped me finally come to terms with my privilege and the guilt I was feeling as a result of this. It made me re-evaluate my role as an intern and attempt to better understand the part I am playing in supporting SETU and their beneficiaries. Ultimately, it helped me finally see that this experience is not just about me. I spent too much time focusing on my own guilt, when I should have been focusing on my role as a supporting figure. Luckily, one of the tasks they would like me to do during my time with SETU is to write success stories of the women they have worked with. I am most looking forward to this as it is a way for me to use my skills to share the stories of these women. Their stories deserve to be heard and their accomplishments deserve to be known, and it is my hope that I can successfully share them in the best way possible.

Elham, International Development and Globalization, Alternatives, Palestine, Teacher Creativity Center

Four weeks used to seem like a long time, however, I think these have been the fastest four weeks I have ever experienced. That being said, these weeks have been very educational, eye opening, and an opportunity everyone can experience.

I am fortunate enough to be able to work with Alternatives and Teacher Creativity Center in Palestine this summer. Teacher Creativity Center works is based in Palestine and works to empower teachers and improve the educational environment and develop the tools the teachers need to be able to help students with the psychological impact the occupation has caused them. It also strives to involve the youth in the public policies by reinforcing their capacities as youth and claiming their rights. My task, along with my partner, is to write a research paper looking at educational movements and how that could be implemented in Palestine, keeping in mind the political, social, and economic aspect of the country. I am still getting used to everything, however, the classes that I attended during my four years of International Development, such as politics, economics, development theories, etc. have really helped me in the internship.

COVID has changed many things, and doing an internship is no different. On the one hand, doing an online internship feels like you’re missing out on a lot in terms of experiencing different cultures and countries. On the other hand, I wouldn’t have been able to have this chance if it had not been for the existence of online internships. I am not saying that it is not difficult, because it is, especially with the time difference, but there are many benefits to it and with technology, there are so many different ways to be connected with both the host organization and the Canadian NGO.

Overall I have been enjoying my time so far with TCC and have learned so many different things that further opened my eyes to the world. I look forward to what else I can learn from this amazing opportunity.

Heather, DVM, World University Service Canada,Malawi, Coalition for the Empowerment of Women and Girls (CEWAG)

Although I believe the experiences that I have gained, and will continue to gain over the course of the next few months, by working remotely with an NGO in a developing country is dampened compared to what I would have experienced physically working in the field, I have regardless learned a significant amount about Malawian culture and the country-specific Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) targets that Malawi is continuing to work towards through my placement.

The SDG’s (specifically Goal 5: Gender Equality) have been explored extensively in my development classes for the Bachelors of International Development and Globalization program at the University of Ottawa. However, it was not until I began working with an NGO based in Lilongwe, Malawi called the Coalition for the Empowerment of Women and Girls (CEWAG) that I gained some first-hand experience and a new perspective on how deep rooted the numerous issues that cause gender inequality are in developing countries. For example, the World Bank (2021) reports that Malawian women and children are more likely than their male counterparts to suffer from poverty and its related impacts, such as violence, poor nutrition, and a lack of access to education and employment. Although these areas of concern have improved in recent decades, gender inequalities in Malawi persist.

Another international development theory that I have observed through my partnership with CEWAG was through their implementation of their project “Elimination of Practices that fuel Gender Based Violence (GBV) among Women and Girls in Mzimba in the Mzikubola area”, which followed the GAD approach. The GAD approach focuses on the socially constructed difference between men and women, the need to challenge existing gender roles and relations, and the creation and effects of class differences on development (Harcourt, 2016, p. 106). It was observed that Mzikubola was still registering high cases of GBV that were fueled by the high migration of males to South Africa in search of better employment opportunities, causing CEWAG to work to strengthen a coordinated GBV prevention and response initiative. Training was provided for women and girls through awareness campaigns on GBV and other methods, and was provided for men through a two-day training process to deconstruct their beliefs about women and girls’ socially constructed roles in society. Although CEWAG’s core values remain to primarily empower Malawian women and girls, they demonstrate how important it is to follow a GAD approach that considers all aspects of gender issues, and the class differences that are created by it. It is important to understand how social norms and power structures impact the lives and opportunities available to different groups of men and women to produce sustainable development projects.

References

Harcourt, W. (2016). The Palgrave handbook of gender and development: critical engagements in feminist theory and practice. Palgrave Macmillan.

Overview. (2021, March 18). The World Bank. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/malawi/overview

Emilie, Conflict Studies and Human Rights, Forum of Federations, MENA Region

So far, my time with the Forum has been a very exciting and educational experience. I am fortunate enough to be spending time working with Headquarters in Ottawa, as well as with each individual program country of interest, those being Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. The MENA program focuses on empowering women in leadership roles in the Middle East North Africa region, and aims to increase the capacity of women and girls to become involved in governance processes and influence policies. I’ve just started with our Jordan team so I am still getting settled in, but my time with HQ was mainly spent helping to prepare our reporting documents for the program funder. This included formatting associated documents, conducting additional research and preparing briefing notes, and helping with English-French translation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has of course presented a number of challenges for me just like it has for everyone else, but it has also allowed for some pretty incredible opportunities. Typically, from what I gather, interns do not usually have the opportunity to work with the Ottawa team because they spend the internship properly in the MENA region. Being able to work virtually allowed me to spend my first few weeks with HQ learning more about the regional aspects of the program, which was very interesting and gave me a better idea of what each country was doing before actually starting to work with them. It also provided me the opportunity to meet many people, and also allowed me to learn more about some of the Forum’s other programs and initiatives.

The Forum’s work focus’ primarily on gender equality, decentralization, and federalism, and as such I have learned a great deal about these topics in only a few weeks. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Forum so far, and while I am a little nervous to change teams every few weeks, I am very excited to continue to work with them and learn however I can.

Gillian, Conflict Studies and Human Rights, Mines Action Canada, Uganda Landmine Survivors Association, South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms

My remote internship has given me the unique option to work with the Uganda Landmine Survivors Association; a grassroots human rights organization that works for landmine survivor’s rights. It is an amazing organization run by a landmine survivor herself, who works tirelessly to ensure other victims get the assistance and access to rights they need.

However, due to unforeseen circumstances, I have been unable to work for this organization so far. Despite this not being the internship I had originally prepared for, instead I have been mostly working with Mines Action Canada (MAC) which is the Canadian partner organization. This was not what I was initially expecting, but the circumstances were out of my control and I am completely understanding and respectful of the situation. Instead of stressing, I embraced my role with MAC as I was doing work that would support ULSA and still was working toward a mine free world.

Now, I have the unique opportunity to work for the South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms, a professional connection that my MAC supervisor set up for me. When ULSA is available to take me on, I could potentially be working for the two organizations at the same time. Although this was not at all how I expected my internship to go, I am grateful for the learning experience that when working internationally, unexpected situations can arise, and adaptations will need to be made. Adapting to real world professional situations is something that can only be learned through actual experience; I am pleased to be part of this internship for the important lessons it teaches about the professional world that can only be spoken about in the academic world.

Reflecting on the changes in my internship reminds me that everything may not go as planned, and that is okay. There is nothing wrong with a change in situation, as long as you are willing to adapt- which in the professional world, you will need to be! Adapting to unexpected changes is a matter of understanding that you are a piece of a bigger puzzle that comes together to work towards the same goal. Even though I am not doing exactly what I thought, I am still supporting organizations that are striving for a safer and more peaceful world.

Kassandra, Sociology, Alternatives, Sri Lanka, National Fisheries Solidarity, Human Rights Research Officer

Having reached the middle of my time as an intern, I can confidently say that this is quite the experience, especially during COVID-19. Like most internships, there’s the good and the bad. It’s how you go about it that will make your experience much more enjoyable.

Being a 4th-year student in sociology, I have taken many types of sociology classes such as deviance, environment, political, etc. which are helping me immensely in this internship. My primary task is to analyze the vulnerabilities that women face in the Northern and the Eastern province of Sri Lanka and a lot of the vulnerabilities touched different aspects that I have learned in my 4 years of university. I was able to apply the basics that I have learned in class to the vulnerabilities that I am analyzing under a different context. In return, it not only gives me a better understanding of the situation in Sri Lanka, but also teaches me how to apply theories and concepts to the outside world. It taught me to adapt the basic concepts to the context of the situation that I am trying to better comprehend. Unfortunately, it would have been better developed if I was physically in Sri Lanka but due to COVID-19 that was not possible 

Overall, I am enjoying my time as an intern for NAFSO. I have learned many new things, connected with great people and further developed my professional skills. Therefore, even with COVID, experiencing a good internship is possible.

Soumaya, Conflict Studies and Human Rights, Forum of Federations, Communications

I can’t believe how fast these last few weeks have passed. Although I knew it might be harder to adjust to a virtual intern experience, I was pleasantly surprised at the Forum where I got to jump right into my role!

In my first month as a communications intern, I had the opportunity to get involved in a variety of projects and campaigns. Some of these included creating social media graphics for the Forum of Federations 20^th anniversary webinar, helping with the website reconstruction, and assisting with the annual report. These experiences have allowed me to develop new skills as well as learn more about the Forum and their role as an organization. As I become more comfortable with these tasks, my supervisor has begun to assign projects for me to start on my own and I’m looking forward to seeing what I will be able to achieve.

Although I am mostly working with the team based in Ottawa, I am still learning a lot about the Forum’s international programs – mostly those based in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as well as in Sudan and Ethiopia.

Of course, the pandemic and the lockdowns have really shaped our work environment. Getting accustomed to virtual work was not that difficult – especially after taking courses online this past semester. However, it did create some challenges for me as a new intern to meet my supervisor and new colleagues and connect with them all. Fortunately, in my experience everyone has been really welcoming and patient with my questions and I do feel like I’m now part of the team!

My internship so far has been a wonderful experience and although I do have many tasks on my plate now, I’m excited for the possibilities.

Vy,International Economics and Development, WUSC, Vietnam, Bac Thang Long College (BTL), Communications Officer

In general, the whole experience was well enriching, knowledgeable, and unforgettable. I would highly recommend students interested in international issues and development to apply for this internship opportunity. My responsibility was to strengthen the operational capacity of BTL, an economic college in Hanoi, Vietnam, with gender equality, inclusivity, and sustainability in mind. My main task consisted in proposing a marketing communication plan that could directly attract young trainees and indirectly promote BTL’s blended learning options.

To be honest, I was quite anxious at the beginning because I wasn’t really sure how or where to start. Thanks to the training resources offered by WUSC and the understanding of the partner organization, to the best of my abilities I assessed BTL’s needs and used the research method, wording, and models acquired in my DVM courses as well as resource management knowledge in Econ courses to complete my proposal.

During the process, the BTL representative also shared some valuable knowledge regarding the communication and marketing fields (which are not my fields of study) to better present my ideas. Another responsibility that I took on was analyzing BTL’s webpages, recommending tips to improve the appearance and the performance of their e-platforms, as well as filming, recording, and editing some instructional videos for BTL students. These additional knowledge and tech skills will highly benefit my candidacy and enlarge my options in the future job hunt.

Overall, I am very satisfied and grateful for this meaningful e-internship experience. For those who consider this opportunity, there will be some stress, confusion, and inconveniences due to the different time zones and cultures. But hey, it is how we learn new skills, discover our hindered strengths, practice our resilience and grow into well-rounded individuals and employees. Don’t forget that the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Canadian NGOs are constantly there to advise and support you along the way!

Shoshannah, Criminilogy, Afghanistan, Mines Action Canada, Afghan Landmine Survivors Organization ALSO, Kabul, Support Officer

For the winter 2021 term at the University of Ottawa, international internships which would normally be offered as a field placement abroad were offered at a distance due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although students are unable to travel to their host organizations, we are provided the opportunity of gaining practical experience as an international intern whilst working remotely from home with our host organization. As a student intern currently positioned as a Mines Action Program Support Officer for Mines Action Canada (MAC), I was afforded the unique opportunity of working with MAC’s partner organization, Afghan Landmine Survivors Organization (ALSO), stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan. Under normal circumstances, this internship with ALSO would not be offered to students during a traditional field placement abroad because of the safety risks and travel restrictions imposed by the Canadian government associated with tourists and/or workers travelling abroad to Afghanistan. Therein, I am exceptionally appreciative of this newly introduced placement at the University of Ottawa.

MAC’s and ALSO’s main missions are to advocate for the dismantlement of indiscriminate explosive weapon use and the rights of their victims, who are often left disabled or deceased. Through their advocacy, both organizations implement international humanitarian law, foreign policy, and international diplomacy in order to maintain legitimacy and widespread support. My primary projects as a student intern for ALSO consist of researching, finding, and acquiring donors/sponsors for the organization’s program funding in Kabul. Furthermore, studying how reports, international humanitarian law, and the objectives of foreign policy buttress ALSO’s advocacy has been vital to collaborating persuasive work with colleagues in Afghanistan.

One striking element (amongst many) that makes ALSO’s mission so powerful is the fact that most of the organization’s staff members are victims and survivors of indiscriminate explosive weapons themselves, many of whom experience disabilities as a result. This provides a personal perspective and passion towards the lived realities faced by explosive weapon victims in Afghanistan. Furthermore, several staff members at ALSO are women survivors with disabilities who fight for their basic rights against intersectional levels of oppression in Afghanistan because of both their gender and (dis)ability. The battle against gender-based oppression in Kabul is still an ongoing struggle and the presence of indiscriminate weapon contamination results in immense poverty, danger, and isolation for women and girls who are denied equality. Therein, ALSO utilizes Feminist Foreign Policy and continues to advocate for women and girls in particular during their support strategies and campaigns. ALSO has given me the task of researching further into the international humanitarian laws currently in place for women and girls, Feminist Foreign Policy, and sponsors who focus on supporting women’s rights exclusively in the upcoming weeks.

I am extremely excited to continue on this journey with MAC and ALSO throughout the rest of my internship. Considering how much I have already learned about international diplomacy, law, and relations, I look forward to furthering my practical involvement with organizations that advocate for the rights and liberty of citizens across the globe.

Safiya, International Relations and Modern Languages, Alternatives Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network Research Officer

In retrospect, my time as a program support officer has left me with great pleasure and success as my first internship experience. Through the non-profit organization Alternatives, I had the pleasure of working with the Advocacy and Communications division of an NGO based in East Africa called SIHA (Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa).

The majority of the work I conducted on behalf of the organization has been research-based, particularly in the realm of women’s issues and current affairs analysis. At first, this role seemed intimidating because I’ve only gained research experience through my educational experience; applying it to a professional work setting made me slightly anxious at first. However, the self-sufficient nature of my remote work has actually left a lot of room for expanding my research and refining my written communication!

I have found success in the essence of my work in research and reviewing reports and project proposals. Moreover, communicating through a social media intermediary has helped me in knowing which projects I needed to manage or specifically focus my energy on. The only challenge I found was due to the remote setting of the internship. Such challenges included some miscommunication and the effects of the time difference. At the beginning of my internship, I never had experience in a remote job, so I had to turn my bedroom not only into a classroom but also a work station. I made sure to devote some of my time every week to the responsibilities of the internship. Moreover, having a task I was required to complete every week served as a foundational basis for other tasks SIHA sent my way.

In my communication with both Alternatives and SIHA, I found both NGOs incredibly helpful and prepared to guide me through the internship process. I would advise anyone going into this kind of internship to build a good relationship with both coordinators because it made everything flow that much easier. Also, do not devote too much time to one single project. It is much simpler and more effective to work in intervals throughout the week, especially when you are managing the workload of an internship as well as post-secondary studies.