2007 Summer Internships
Reflections from Participants in the 2007 Student Summer Internship Program
“Through our research, I feel that we have gained an extensive and thorough knowledge of the issues surrounding women’s rights and the law in Ghana. In particular, we have learned about the interaction between law and culture, as tradition and customary law are extremely important to Ghanaian communities. I have learned a lot about the need for the law to be sensitive to the culture of the people.”
Roanna Tay, UBC, West African Dispute Resolution Centre, Accra, Ghana
“Most of all, I’ve learned a lot about myself and how I am capable of working efficiently in a completely new environment, with new people and new issues. My experience has also taught me how to work independently. I have developed confidence in my understanding of legal issues as well as my ability to develop a methodology to address these issues.”
Julie Deziel, Université de Montreal, ECPAT, Bangkok, Thailand
“The tasks were challenging and the work was rewarding, although as with all development work, it is hard to see results right away. Nevertheless it was rewarding to work with partners and notice substantial behind the scenes work that was completed during my stay. My advice to future interns? Don’t expect a ‘black letter law’ experience.”
Toby Kruger, University of New Brunswick, Asia Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
“I can’t describe how grateful I am for having this opportunity to encounter women living in remote villages, living in witch camps, and those who are trying to help them. It was also special to meet with government officials in cities far from the status quo feeling of Accra.”
Leemor Valin, University of Ottawa, West African Dispute Resolution Centre, Accra, Ghana
“The highlight of my internship was attending the annual general assembly of the Kaska Tribal Council in Boya Lake Park in northern B.C. It was the first opportunity that I had to speak to a First Nation’s assembly about the work of my host organization, to explain the importance of Aboriginal involvement in international affairs and to talk about the AAC’s current work on biodiversity.”
Peter Wigen, University of Ottawa, Artic Athabaskan Council, Whitehorse, Yukon
“Getting to witness the creation of the Territory’s first Regional Land Use Plan was interesting. In grad school as a student of urban planning we often discussed how such plans were implemented but rarely would we address how plans were developed as most had been in place for years. To see such a process at this developmental stage was a unique experience.”
Karen Trzaska, University of Western Ontario, Yukon Land Use Planning Council, Whitehorse, Yukon
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