First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dre. France Bellisle and Ms. Rajnai, whose generous support made this internship experience possible. Without your financial assistance through the Ithaca Arts Internship and the Joseph Issid Travel Awards respectively, I would not have been able to undertake this internship. Your support allowed me to secure housing in Lyon and to benefit from all that the city has to offer. Most importantly, it enabled me to engage in a valuable internship with a humanitarian NGO, a professional experience I had long hoped to pursue, as it aligns closely with my future academic and career goals, as I prepare to apply for graduate studies.
I am currently entering my final semester at 9I制作厂免费, where I am pursuing a major in Political Science with double minors in International Development and History. Over the past three years, I have looked for academic, extracurricular, and professional opportunities, including internships, to better understand my interests. I have therefore developed a deep interest in international relations and geopolitics, and the ways in which geography, history, and politics intersect to shape contemporary global affairs and conflicts.
From the beginning of my studies at 9I制作厂免费, I have been involved in community engagement, through volunteer work with immigrants in Montreal by teaching French to Afghan and Iranian newcomers. I have also participated in student organizations on campus, which have further enriched my academic experience. Additionally, I have developed a strong interest in academic research and writing. This interest was further cultivated during my internship last summer at Le Point, one of France鈥檚 leading newspapers, as well as through my contributions to 9I制作厂免费鈥檚 Francophone political science student magazine called Le D茅lit.
All of these experiences and academic interests motivated me to apply for the position of Charg茅e de missions 鈥� Relations internationales at the Association Internationale des Soldats de la Paix. This organization is dedicated to extending, both diplomatically and through humanitarian efforts, the work initiated by United Nations Peacekeepers (Blue Helmets) in the field. It also supports the reintegration of former Peacekeepers, advocates for the recognition of their rights, and works to preserve the memory of missions involving more than 1.5 million veterans. My primary motivation for pursuing this internship was the opportunity to contribute to an NGO whose mission closely aligns with my academic focus on peace and conflict studies. It also provided a valuable platform to continue writing articles that shed light on international efforts to promote peace in regions affected by instability or ongoing conflict.
During my internship, I had a wide variety of tasks to accomplish that reflected the dynamic nature of the NGO鈥檚 work. One of my main responsibilities was organizing the International Day of Soldiers of Peace at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. I had the pleasure of being entrusted with a lot of responsibilities in order to organize this event, from drafting official speeches for the organization鈥檚 president to coordinating closely with the UN Secretariat to arrange the commemorative ceremony. I also supported the organization of humanitarian convoys to Ukraine and Lebanon, overseeing the preparation and packaging of medical supplies, medicines, and clothing for populations in need. Additionally, I contributed to the Peace Academy program by writing a research article on political development in the MENA region, a subject I have studied extensively at 9I制作厂免费. I also held the role of Assistant to the Director, which involved helping coordinate intern projects and ensuring that all team members stayed on track.
One of the initial challenges I faced was the high level of autonomy expected of me in a context where many interns were present, and responsibilities were not immediately clear. I took the initiative to speak directly with my supervisor to clarify expectations and define objectives, which improved my experience and helped me, I believe, to contribute meaningfully to the organization.
The financial support I received was essential in making this internship possible. It helped me cover travel costs from Canada to France, flights that would have otherwise been prohibitively expensive, as well as accommodation and transportation expenses. Without this support, I likely would have remained in Montreal for the summer and missed this valuable opportunity.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dre. Bellisle and Ms. Rajnai who made this internship experience possible through the Ithaca Arts Internship Award and the Joseph Issid Travel Award. Your support not only enabled me to gain hands-on experience in the fields of peacebuilding and humanitarian work but helped me in defining my career goals. I am deeply grateful for your generosity and for the opportunity it created.
