2009 Summer Internships
Reflections from Participants in the 2009 Student Summer Internship Program
“…I was among the Ghanaians, observing the court proceedings, conscious of their frustrations and confusions in the front of the Court. It was also an experience in itself to be close to the prisoners, some of whom have been waiting for their judgment for an undetermined number of years. It was sometimes chaotic, but still working in its own way even though there is room for improvement. I also really felt privileged to regularly spend some enlightening time with the Circuit Court judge, the High Court judge and their colleagues after court.”
Myriam Raymond-Jetté, Women in Law and Development Africa (WiLDAF)
Takoradi, Ghana
“The most rewarding aspect of my experience was coming to the realization that the initiatives I contributed to at ECPAT will have far-reaching effects on raising public awareness about the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). I was thrilled to have the opportunity to lobby international governments to implement and enforce more comprehensive statutes that will provide the proper protection and care for victims of CSEC. I feel fortunate to have worked alongside such dedicated and motivated individuals, consistently producing high quality work using limited resources. The ECPAT team’s persistence and passion for bettering the lives of children across the globe was truly inspirational and I am certain that this experience will have long lasting effect on my personal and professional development.”
Brittany Twiss, ECPAT
Bangkok, Thailand
“I learned so much about the constitutional framework of Bangladesh and the many human rights centered laws that have in large part come about through the sustained efforts of a rather robust civil society. At the same time, I learned how perceptibly absent the effects of such laws are on the lives of most Bangladeshis, especially women, the poor, and other marginalized groups…Furthermore, the ability to seek recourse when one’s rights are violated is complicated by a bevy of obstacles that bar access to the courts or other dispute resolution forums. Even where one gains access, such problems as corruption and institutionalized discrimination (especially against women and the poor) can affect the quality of the justice process, and the fairness of the decision rendered.”
Janet Chow, Asia Foundation
Dhaka, Bangladesh
“I learned that the way work and business is conducted in North America is not necessarily the way it is done everywhere else in the world. Yet despite the cultural dissimilarities, the common law traditions of Ghana bear a remarkable similarity to those of Canada. I feel that I have a much deeper and more personal understanding of the challenges facing the developing world. I do believe that the experiences I’ve had will position me to continue making positive contributions to global projects throughout my legal career.”
Chris Samuel, Center for Public Interest Law (CEPIL)
Accra, Ghana
“…My knowledge and understanding of northern and territorial (versus provincial) legislative regimes was expanded and I became familiar with several of the proposed and existing natural development projects in the Yukon and Alaska and studied their associated environmental issues…The highlights of my internship included the opportunity to experience Canada’s north, observe the rapid shifts resulting from climate change impacts, and live in a social setting where total land per resident is approximately 14 km2 (as compared to less than 0.25 km2 in BC) and a minority group forms a much greater percentage of the overall population. At the Biennial YRITWC Summit held in August 2009, I gained a fuller understanding of the key issues encountered by various lands department staff, and was exposed to the important role of a facilitator in discussion circles.”
Maya Stano, Yukon River Inter-tribal Watershed Council (YRITWC)
Whitehorse, British Columbia
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