2011 AUCC Recipients
The Internship Offices Network is pleased to announce the five McGill students who were selected as Students for Development by the Association of Universities of Colleges of Canada. Their internships were undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency. See below for more on each of their experiences.
Nicole Waldston, U2, Social Work: Nicole Waldston is a second year student in the 90 credit BSW Program. Once finished this program, she intends to complete an MSW and an LLB/BCL in the faculty of law, which will aid in the pursuit of a career in international human rights and policy work. To help do this, Nicole will be doing an internship with Nexos Voluntarios in Peru, working on a public health project, aimed to educated teesnagers on reproductive health.
Laura McKeeman, MSW, Social Work: This summer, Laura will be an intern with Nexos Voluntarios (NeVo) in Urubamba, Peru. NeVo undertakes community development projects in the Sacred Valley. Laura’s passion for social justice will be an asset to her involvement in the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination. She has recently completed a field placement in community organizing at Project Genesis. Laura will gain valuable first hand experience in international community development, which will advance her knowledge and skills in her chosen field.
Kirsten Joe, U1, International Development Studies: Kirsten will be entering her third year at McGill in International Development Studies. She speaks English, French, Spanish, and began studying Mandarin in the fall as well. Kirsten has a particular interest in health and health education as a central aspect of development, and so is very excited to be spending the summer interning in Peru with Nexos Voluntarios as part of their UNFPA Reproductive Health Program.
Kayleigh Youngman, U2, International Development Studies: Kayleigh will intern with Nexos Voluntarios, a non profit organization that seeks to promote development through diverse social projects in Peru this summer. Kayleigh has been actively involved in organizations around campus such as Seeds of Change, and is incredibly excited for her internship experience. She will be teaching English in order to increase the opportunity for local citizens to benefit from the region's growing tourism industry and progress out of poverty. Her experience with the eco-friendly tourist initiative will expose her to a more comprehensive understanding of grassroots socially responsible development, which will prove to be invaluable to her future aspirations in business sustainability.
Carlene Bates, U2, International Development: Carlene will be interning with Nexos Voluntarios in Urubamba, Peru. This is a grassroots NGO based in Lima which works to promote social development in communities throughout Peru. More specifically, Carlene will be working with the newly formed Tourism Commission in Urubamba. During her time at McGill she has been very involved with different organizations, such as Oxfam McGill and SAMA. The experience she will be gaining from interning with this organization will be essential in helping her decide which field of development she would like to study when pursuing her graduate degree.