Never Again Rwanda has been providing internship placements to university students and young professionals, since its inception in 2002. NAR believes that interns play a significant role in any organization and they are a valuable asset. Their experience allows them to engage directly with the complexities of the professional world and gives them access to various opportunities while advancing their skills to contribute to their personal development, which ultimately empowers them to achieve their goals.
We sat down with Julia Crandell, a Governance and Rights intern at NAR with an interest in NGO work and human rights. She holds a double bachelor’s degree in political science & International Relations and Law.
Why did you choose to pursue an internship at Never Again Rwanda?
I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Rwanda for two years and I used to teach in rural areas. I was looking for an opportunity that would allow me to have a broader impact and heard about Never Again Rwanda through a former Peace Corps volunteer. I then did some research and spoke to some people who said it is a highly regarded organization with a real impact in Rwanda. I am passionate about Governance & Rights and its also related to my degree, so when I discovered that this was one of the main pillars of NAR, I was motivated to apply for an internship.
What did you hope to gain from this experience?
Initially I wanted to learn about how NGOs work, the planning and preparations that go into activities, the research that goes into implementing projects and making sure that those projects have an impact. So far I can say that I have been able to experience this and have been learning first-hand what it takes to implement a project, and even see what happens afterwards like the monitoring and evaluation to find out if there was an impact.
Prior to interning at NAR, did you know anything about peacebuilding or governance & rights or other pillars of development that NAR is engaged in?
Before my internship, I didn’t know much about peacebuilding but I knew about Governance and Rights, although I only knew about it from an Australian perspective and not from a Rwandan one. During my internship, I have had the opportunity to learn about how Governance and Rights work in Rwanda.
So far, what has been your favorite experience at NAR?
My favorite experience was when I had the opportunity to attend a community dialogue in Rutsiro District between the citizens and the mayor, which was broadcasted live on the community radio. They were discussing the issue of family conflict and it was very interesting to see how open the citizens were to engaging in debate and exchanging ideas.
Given the unemployment rate among youth, many do not like to volunteer and do unpaid internships. What do you think are the benefits of doing an internship and what would you tell your peers to encourage them to look for internship opportunities?
I know it’s difficult because a lot of people can’t afford to do something unpaid but I think it’s a great opportunity because when you are applying for jobs, they always ask you for the experience. An internship is a great way to get that experience; it opens doors that lead to opportunities either to work in that organization or in other organizations through connections and networking. I view it as getting your foot in the door to be able to move into a career.
How is the internship shaping your career and future goals?
I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do as a career, and not just in terms of the area I want to work in, but the kind of work that I like. For example, do I like sitting at a desk or going on the field – those kinds of things? So interning at Never Again Rwanda has been a really good experience for me in trying out different things and seeing what I like so as to help me decide what I want to do in the future.