My experience as a Human Rights Intern with aditus foundation

#KeepingUpWithTheInterns

It’s November already and 2020 is almost over, so is my internship.  I still remember sending my CV and being interviewed by aditus back in February of this year.  The feeling of excitement accompanied by concern that I had regarding whether they will let me in the aditus family and accept me as a human rights intern. Also, whether they would see me suitable for such an internship. Lucky Rimaz, they did, and here I am reaching the end of this amazing full-of-experience as a Human Rights Intern with aditus foundation!

I still remember the first week of the internship: it’s called reading week, where I read about aditus’ previous and current projects. It was in that week where I realized that I am in the right place for human rights. I remember facing challenges in understanding some projects, but that was the aim behind reading week: to read, observe and ask whenever in doubt. Also, by reading up about previous projects, I have built up an idea on how aditus works and the type of projects that I feel keen on being involved in, if possible.

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A human rights internship with aditus foundation!

#KeepingUpWithTheInterns

Hey all! This week I will update you on my experiences as a Human Rights Intern with aditus foundation.  As a lot of you may know, Rimaz and I applied for this human rights internship back in January. This is my journey and experience from the beginning till now.

In January aditus foundation posted the advert for this internship on their website and their social media pages. I was hesitant at first on whether I should apply. They were looking for someone who was committed to human rights and also a member of a marginalised community. I knew that I fulfilled all the requirements, but deep down I still thought, “I am a normal teenager with somewhat a normal life”. So because of that I felt I shouldn’t apply. However my friends encouraged me to apply since this was a human rights internship they thought – insisted – would be beneficial for my future. So exactly on the closing date I decided to apply by sending my CV and covering letter.

Matthew at a march for women's rights.
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Interview with an intern: Erna!

#KeepingUpWithTheInterns

Hey all! I hope you are all good and that you’re enjoying this blazing hot summer! It has been a while since we wrote a blog post but do not worry we are back again! Today I will be interviewing Erna Landgraf, who just finished an internship with aditus foundation. So without further ado let’s get to know Erna!


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Two Human Rights Internships (part-time, paid)

In the context of the project Marginalised Persons as Human Rights Volunteers, we are happy to offer two paid Human Rights Internships, for the period 1 February to 31 December 2020.

The project acknowledges the challenges faced by marginalised groups in engaging in NGO activities and seeks to overcome these challenges by providing as broad a learning experience as possible.

The two Interns will be fully integrated into our team, participating in projects, activities, advocacy efforts, public initiatives and formulation of our strategies. Together with the Interns, we will also identify and support our Interns’ key learning needs, such as linguistic, IT, administrative/management or other.

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Memoirs of a Legal Intern!

Looking back at my internship and stay in Malta it’s hard to believe that I had some hesitations before I took the decision to spend four months there. I can now say with complete confidence that I have no regrets and I’m really happy for all that I learned and experienced during this time.

What eventually attracted me to Malta, apart from great weather and beautiful views, was an exceptional activity of various NGOs around the Platform of Human Rights and their engagement in defending and promoting human rights.

So at aditus , where I finally worked for four months, I had a chance to contribute to various  projects – I was assisting in research for the ATLAS project on legal aid in Malta, I was helping with conducting interviews and research for the Annual Human Rights Report and I was engaged in fitness check about the compliance of Maltese law with EU directives, amongst others.

I also had an opportunity to participate in various training and seminars as well as take part in meetings with other Maltese NGO’s and stakeholders.

Now, I am so glad that I had a chance to work at aditus and to see how a small group of such dedicated people can make a difference to life of people who are in distress. aditus` work shows that advocating and fighting for rights of people in need, regardless of their colour, religion, gender identity or nationality can really change the situation of everyone whose rights are violated.

My internship at aditus confirmed my wish to specialize in human rights law, so I am now continuing my studies in this area and I hope to work in human rights organization in the future.

However, my four months in Malta were not only about working. I can say that during this time I gained the whole “Maltese experience”. I was freezing at the beginning and suffering from the heat later on, spent a lot of time in traffic jams, ate more pastizzi than I should have, tried a rabbit dish, travelled across Malta and Gozo and swam in Blue Lagoon.

Malta might be a small island but for sure it is not a place where you can get bored and the beautiful views and amazing beaches can reward all the stuff that can sometimes annoy you.

I want to thank everyone with whom I worked at aditus – Neil, Carla, Claire, Antonella and all the interns, for everything I learned and for the great time I had.  The atmosphere at work was extremely friendly and lively. I was lucky to be part of their team for four months and for sure I will miss our talks and lunches on the terrace. Continue the great work you are doing and I hope that we’ll meet again soon!

Marina Kopacz

Read more about internships with us!