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Please join us in congratulating 16 International Development Studies students -recipients of the 2024 Faculty of Arts Internship Awards.

Simone Poku, U0, International Development Studies

Simone Poku is a first-year student at McGill, eagerly embarking on her academic journey in International Development and Communication Studies. Motivated by the desire to delve deeper into the intricacies of international development, Simone will be interning with CAMFED Toronto this summer. CAMFED is an international NGO dedicated to eradicating poverty and empowering girls through education. Simone aims to conduct meaningful research, refine her skills and broaden her scope on CAMFED’s innovative strategies throughout her internship.

Taïna Dushime, U3, International Development Studies

Taïna Dushime is a third-year student at McGill University majoring in International Development and minoring in Health Geography. Interning at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR Canada), she will be working with seasoned professionals dedicated to ensuring the rights of refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. Fueled by her passion for human rights advocacy and experience in digital marketing, Taïna will be working on different UNHCR initiatives including interviews with previous asylum-seekers, educational projects for younger demographics, and various other storytelling campaigns highlighting contributions of refugees in Quebec and Canada.

Plem Kijamba, U2, International Development Studies and Political Science

Plem will be interning at the UNHCR (Montréal office), which is the UN Refugee Agency, with a mandate to provide international protection to refugees and to work with states for durable solutions to the problem of refugees. As an intern, Plem will contribute to the advancement of research on protection of minors, detention, and border issues, represent UNHCR at awareness-raising events, etc. This is also an opportunity for Plem to learn more about international legal frameworks that protect refugees and how they can be upheld.

Lake Liu, U3, International Development and East Asian Studies

Lake Liu is a fourth-year honours student majoring in International Development and East Asian Studies. This summer, she is interning with the Funding and Outreach Department at CKUT, McGill’s non-profit radio station. Lake will assist with grant-writing to secure funding sources, organize fundraising events and help with donor communications. As a music and pop culture enthusiast, Lake is excited for the chance to further CKUT’s mission to amplify diverse voices in radio.

Lucy Baretto, U3, International Development Studies

Lucy (she/her) is finishing her third year at McGill majoring in International Development Studies and minoring in Indigenous Studies and Social Entrepreneurship. She is excited to be interning with Comm-Un this summer, a Montreal collective/organization committed to empowering housed and unhoused community members in Milton-Parc. Lucy is looking forward to growing both as an individual and a professional at Comm-Un while gaining hands-on experience in community organizing, grant writing, budgeting, and much more.

Sara Saleem Daredia, U2, International Development Studies

Sara Saleem Daredia, a U2 student majoring in International Development with a minor in Environment, will intern with Ibex Media Network (IMN) in Pakistan. As an intern at Ibex Media Network (IMN), Sara will serve as a pivotal link between the media outlet and environmental and social development partners like the Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP), the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency (GB-EPA), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Her responsibilities will include assessing and reporting on Community-based Block Plantation Projects' impact, creating educational videos on farming technologies, and advocating for climate awareness through various media. Sara’s role merges academic knowledge with practical application in climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

Sarah Elobaid Ahmed, U3, International Development and World Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies

Sarah is a U3 student majoring in International Development and World Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies. She will be interning at The Upstream Journal, a human rights and social justice magazine based in Montreal. This summer, she will engage in research, interviewing, writing/editing articles, and recording a podcast episode. With a background in activism and NGO experience, Sarah looks forward to applying her skills to the Upstream team while exploring a career in journalism.

Sarah Feng, U2, International Development Studies

Sarah is a second-year student pursuing an Honours International Development degree with a minor in Philosophy. This summer, she will be serving as a Canadian Program Intern for Equitas – The International Centre for Human Rights Education, an organization dedicated to fostering more equitable and inclusive communities through nationwide programming addressing discrimination, empowering youth facing barriers, and engaging decision-makers. Sarah is eager to contribute to Equitas’ program management, communication projects, and the development of educational tools.

Lauren Kandalaft, U3, International Development Studies

Lauren Kandalaft is a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with a major in International Development and minors in Communication Studies and Social Entrepreneurship. This summer, she will be serving as a Citizen Engagement Education Intern at Éduconnexion in Montreal. Throughout her internship within this non-governmental organization, she will work towards fulfilling Éduconnexion's mission by participating in projects seeking to support marginalized communities and assisting the organization in its creation of communication and educational tools.

Angela Zhai, U1, International Development Studies and Computer Science

Angela is a first-year undergraduate student majoring in International Development and Computer Science at McGill University. She will be interning with Festival Accès Asie, a Montreal-based festival that promotes Asian cultures and traditions through various art forms. Angela is looking forward to immersing herself in a multicultural environment and she’s excited to witness firsthand the power the arts can have in preserving heritage. She hopes to learn more about event coordination through her internship.

Bhavya Kalra, U1, International Development and Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies

Bhavya Kalra is a U1 student majoring in International Development and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies. This summer, she will intern at Pinay Quebec, an organization that champions the rights of Filipina domestic workers and caregivers. During the internship, she will engage closely with the community, developing tailored capacity-building initiatives and collaborating with stakeholders to design custom training programs. This experience will enhance her professional growth and reinforce a commitment to the arts and social advocacy.

Clio Bailey, U3, International Development Studies

Clio is a fourth year Honours International Development student with minors in Hispanic Studies and Social Studies of Medicine. This summer, she will be interning with the Permanent Mission of Canada to the International Organizations in Vienna (VPERM). She looks forward to learning more about careers in diplomacy and is most excited to work at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Julia De Oliveira Lima Gaspar, U3, International Development Studies

Júlia is an upcoming third-year student in International Development Studies, Economics, and Hispanic Studies. Originally from Brazil, with roots from Portugal, Julia is thrilled to enter the diplomatic field. This summer, she will be interning at the Consulate General of Portugal in Montreal.

Marie-Alex Depuydt, U2, International Development and Political Science

Marie-Alix is pursuing a Joint Honors Political Science and International Development Studies degree with a minor in Economics. This summer, she will be interning at Fipra International, a public affair consulting firm in Brussels. With the European elections approaching, she aims to gain experience by monitoring and working with clients to gain a deeper understanding of EU public affairs. Marie-Alix is eager to grasp a more comprehensive understanding of EU regulatory affairs through this internship.

Ava Francin, U1, International Development
Ava is a first-year student at McGill pursuing a major International Development and minor in French. SheÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½appl be completing her first internship at the Office of Congresswoman Lois Frankel this summer. Working as an intern for the US Congress provides her a chance to gain firsthand experience in the legislative process and comprehend the impact of domestic policies on international development efforts. Ava is eager to contribute and gain hands-on experience in public policy.

Molly Door, U3, International Development and African Studies

Molly Dorr is in her fourth year at McGill, pursuing a Joint Honours degree in International Development Studies and African Studies. She will be interning with Amplio, a non-profit whose mission is to increase literacy rates in marginalized communities across the world. Molly is thankful for the opportunity to learn from an experienced team and work to better the lives of others

We invite you to have a look at the full list of recipients and their bios at: /arts-internships/2024-award-recipients.