Making a difference on my remote Human Rights and Anti-Racism internship

Aug 15, 2022 • Briani Netzahuatl

Briani Netzahuatl joined our remote Human Rights & Anti-Racism internship, hosted out Israel. As someone who is passionate about anti-racism and human rights issues, Briani hopes to raise awareness and learn more about how NGOs function.

This internship has taught me a lot about what it means to take charge and really give my all on something for a cause that I believe in - it’s given me the confidence to believe in my ideas and words. It helped a lot that I had such a supportive team with me every step of the way.

Read on to find out more about Briani’s internship!

What was it like getting started and settled into this remote internship?

It was good! I learned a lot about the topics and issues I’d be working on during the internship, which was an exciting introduction to the experience. I think I expected the first week to be more intense, scary, and overwhelming, but it was very manageable and chill.

The most memorable moment at the beginning was just chatting with my supervisor for almost two hours, about the work and projects I’ll be helping out on, the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and all the caveats/idiosyncrasies of the situation. I listened to everything she said with an open attitude and genuine desire to learn more and better educate myself. She was so nice and helpful to provide me with information, as well as her perspectives and thoughts as someone who lives this. It was refreshing and insightful.

Given that the interns all come from a wide variety of places, there’s a real emphasis and appreciation for getting our perspectives and thoughts on projects. We are encouraged to speak up in meetings, and actively contribute to projects by leaving comments on the Google Docs and taking charge.

Remote Human Rights internships with Intern Abroad HQ

As an intern, what kind of tasks were you involved with?

My host organization for this online internship specializes in developing Palestinian media and Human Rights discourse in Israel, through strategic action and projects. I have coordinated reports, researched funding, submitted applications for funding opportunities, explored partnerships and programs in order to achieve these goals. In these reports, I edited language, clarified our objectives and goals, and worked to strengthen our cause for funding.

I learned a lot about submitting applications for funds, which is super cool because I am interested in potentially working at an NGO! I think these skills, like using Google Suite and Microsoft Office, as well as learning how to understand the language in these applications, could definitely be applied to future career paths, as there is always a need for funding. I also think I developed my ability to work independently and ask for more responsibility - I think that will serve me well if I plan on going to law school in the future.

Check out more of Intern Abroad HQ’s top internships in Law & Human Rights Support

Remote Human Rights internships with Intern Abroad HQ

How did you manage the remote nature of the internship experience?

I prioritized tasks based on when they were due and my role in seeing it through. There were some projects that I had a more senior role in, so I always started the day off with working on those and ending on those projects as well. I tried to space things out with breaks in between and divide tasks into more bite-size chunks.

I was most comfortable communicating with my internship team via phone calls or Whatsapp messages, as it felt more casual and I thrive best in those environments. The interns all used a group chat and I was regularly in contact with my supervisor, as she would send me notes on interesting potential projects, before emailing through more details. We had smooth communication throughout!

The biggest challenge was managing the time difference between us, as the working week in Israel is different than in the United States. I’m not used to that but I communicated that with her, and there was no pressure for me to adopt the same hours as my supervisor.

What was one of the best highlights from your internship?

I definitely learned that I get out as much as I put in. I’ve had the opportunity to work on some phenomenal projects with this team that have been extremely rewarding and enlightening, so I’ve had the opportunity to learn a lot about working with an NGO, writing proposals, how applying for grants work, and other things related to this industry. It’s been very helpful in my journey towards finding a career path.

Remote Human Rights internships with Intern Abroad HQ

How did the Human Rights and Anti-Racism internship empower you?

I feel more empowered because I know more about this field and its inner workings. I also feel empowered knowing that there are numerous opportunities available for me, and that there are actors and organizations that are trying to make the world a better place and working towards or on causes I’m passionate about. It’s very inspiring. Also, working with an organization that really champions womens’ voices has been very exciting and empowering to be a part of.

In addition to this, I enhanced my familiarity with systems like Microsoft Office, which is an important skill and proficiency to have! I learned a lot about time management, especially when it comes to balancing multiple things at once (I have also been conducting independent research), while also navigating a wide variety of time zone differences. This has been extremely helpful to me.

Lastly, I learned a lot about what it means to take initiative and lead on projects. I have had to learn that there are times where my manager might not tell me exactly what to do, so it is up to me to make creative decisions or implement the changes she wants to see. I grew in understanding how and when to step up.

From here, I’d like to make a list of organizations that I’m interested in working with in the future and see where that takes me. I’d also like to explore other interests of mine, especially in regard to more creative endeavors, continue growing in my leadership and time management skills and in character-building.

This internship has taught me a lot about what it means to take charge and really give my all on something for a cause that I believe in - it’s given me the confidence to believe in my ideas and words. It helped a lot that I had such a supportive team with me every step of the way.

How can I get started?

Our step-by-step guide on how it works provides you with more information on how to get started. The process is user friendly and there are two options you can take to get the ball rolling.

If you’re unsure of which internship program is right for you, you can simply check availability to submit an enquiry which will help us to point you in the right direction. If you want to chat over the phone, you can also find our full contact information here.
If you already have an idea of what you want to do, and when you want to do it, you can submit your application. It doesn’t cost anything and won’t take more than 5 minutes. However, your formal expression of interest provides the foundation for us to help you take the next steps.

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