In April, I completed my second year at 91社区, where I studied Honours International Development Studies with a minor in Philosophy. While my interests vary and shift often, I am curious about migration, the intersections of education and law, and human rights.
I was drawn to completing an internship through the Arts Internship Office because it would allow me to gain work experience, make connections, and complement the academic portion of my degree well. I was specifically keen on interning for Equitas because it would allow me to translate what I had learned in the classroom to a real-world context.
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Equitas is a nonprofit organization that aims to advance equality, social justice, and respect for human dignity in Canada and worldwide through human rights education. In Canada, Equitas teaches human rights through play and supports children and youth as leaders in promoting diversity, inclusion, and community participation.
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Before beginning my internship at Equitas, I set many learning objectives. I wanted to learn what working with a human rights lens looked like, not only in theory but in practice. I also aimed to learn more about the intricacies of the nonprofit world and the convergence of human rights and education. Lastly, I wanted to immerse myself in a bilingual workplace to improve my French skills.
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As an intern for Equitas鈥� Canadian Program, I assisted with the logistical planning, successful delivery, and evaluation of the Anti-Racism Resource Guide (ARRG) launch event. This gathering brought diverse people from across Canada working in various sectors (nonprofit, government, recreation, education) to discuss anti-racism and brainstorm ideas for a guide to distribute to workplaces, cities, and schools. I also helped run consultations with youth for a project focused on collecting data on young people鈥檚 knowledge and ideas on human rights to envision future actionable steps that would ensure youth鈥檚 rights are met within their communities. Moreover, I was responsible for creating a plan for an updated Zine that would showcase Canadian youth鈥檚 Community Action Projects (CAPs, Equitas-funded youth initiatives addressing various human rights issues). Additionally, I helped with the creation and editing of various Equitas activities for youth to be distributed to our partners for different events, such as the annual Journ茅es de la Paix, an online event organized by le reseaux pour la paix et l鈥檋armonie sociale and for National Child Day, a holiday dedicated to Canada鈥檚 commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Finally, throughout my internship, I worked on a knowledge product to be added to Equitas鈥� resources centred on teaching consent to youth. This initiative involved research, the creation of an educational activity for youth, and communication with the entire Equitas team.
Some of the highlights of the internship were getting to interact with youth in French during a youth consultation, learn about the various work and life experiences of my colleagues at our annual Staff Retreat, and hear from Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer, civil society leader, and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Meanwhile, a challenge I faced was putting too much pressure on myself to figure out what career path I wanted to pursue upon completing my internship and undergraduate degree. Sharing my worries with my friends and colleagues helped me look at the bigger picture and stay optimistic and determined.
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This internship marks the halfway point in my university experience. The last two years at 91社区 have perfectly prepared me for this internship, and I will take away what I have learned this summer to reframe my focus for the next two years. I feel excited and ready to immerse myself in my studies further and imagine the impact I can make with what I learn. Also, my French skills and knowledge of Montreal have grown so much through living in the city over the summer, which I am excited to use to the fullest upon my return!
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I am so grateful to Ms. Wendy Patton Keys for her generous support through the Wendy Patton Keys Arts Internship Award, which has allowed me to support myself in Montreal during my internship. Thanks to the funding, I have been able to focus my efforts on learning as much as I can.
