Internship Spotlight: Sofia Campos-Gutierrez - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ecuador

I would like to begin by extending my sincere thanks to Mr. Richard Levy for his generous support of my internship through the Richard B. Levy Family Arts Internship Travel Award. As a third-year student majoring in English Literature and Political Science with a minor in Russian Culture, I’ve long been interested in the intersection of global migration, human rights, and policy development. This internship with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ecuador allowed me to take my classroom learning into a real-world setting, deepening my understanding of forced displacement and international protection.

I was drawn to this internship by my commitment to refugee rights and my interest in how international organizations address large-scale humanitarian needs. I chose to intern abroad because I wanted firsthand exposure to the way global protection frameworks are applied in local contexts. Ecuador—home to one of the largest refugee and migrant populations in Latin America—offered an especially rich opportunity to engage with these dynamics in practice.

UNHCR Ecuador works to protect the rights of refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless people. The office supports access to asylum procedures, legal protection, and durable solutions for individuals fleeing violence and persecution, particularly those from Colombia and Venezuela. The organization also works with government authorities and civil society to strengthen national protection systems and ensure the rights of displaced persons are upheld.

As a remote intern with the Protection Unit, my primary responsibility was the development of a jurisprudential guide on human mobility in Ecuador. This project involved researching Ecuadorian and international legal frameworks, identifying key judicial precedents on refugee and migrant rights, and drafting accessible summaries for UNHCR staff and partner organizations.

My academic background in political science was instrumental in understanding the legal and institutional frameworks surrounding refugee protection. Courses on international relations and migration policy equipped me to interpret legal texts and assess state responses to forced displacement. Meanwhile, my training in English literature sharpened my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely—an essential skill for the legal guide I helped draft.

One of the most meaningful aspects of my internship was learning from the Protection Unit’s legal officers, whose commitment to their work and the communities they serve was deeply inspiring. Their expertise and compassion reminded me that humanitarian work is not just about legal norms, but about the people and stories at the heart of displacement.

A key challenge of the internship was adjusting to remote work across different time zones and maintaining a sense of connection with the team. At times, it was difficult to fully grasp the daily operations of the office from a distance. However, through regular mentorship, collaborative tasks, and ongoing communication with my supervisor, I was able to build strong relationships and feel part of the team’s mission.

I am completing this internship for academic credit under the supervision of Professor Juan Pablo Luna, and I am currently working on the final research paper based on my experience. The internship allowed me to bridge academic inquiry with field-based realities, and to think critically about the role of law and policy in humanitarian responses.

This experience has further motivated me to pursue a career in international law, particularly in the areas of refugee protection and human rights. The generous financial support I received through the Richard B. Levy Family Arts Internship Travel Award made this opportunity possible. It covered essential expenses during the course of the internship, enabling me to focus fully on this meaningful work.

Thank you to the Richard B. Levy Family for making this experience possible. Your support gave me the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to a field I am deeply passionate about.