Laurie-Ève, International Studies and Modern Languages,
Forum of Federations,
MENA Project
For the past ten weeks, I have been part of the MENA Project, which focuses on empowering women in North Africa and the Middle East. Funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by the Forum of Federations, this project carries out initiatives on gender equality, primarily in Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia. Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to collaborate with teams from each of these countries in that order.
At first, the remote internship experience can feel intimidating. There’s a fear of not meeting supervisors' expectations or failing to fully grasp the socio-cultural issues of the host countries. However, after a few weeks, those doubts faded. A remote internship offers unique benefits, as it is an entirely distinct kind of opportunity.
Who would have thought it possible to work from home, in the comfort of one’s own space, while contributing to international projects? Not only was communication quick and efficient, but I also feel that I had the chance to diversify my range of tasks. In working on themes of gender equality and women’s empowerment, I was involved in multiple aspects of the MENA Project: organizing online events, summarizing webinars and academic articles, translating documents, conducting research for conference presentations, creating Excel databases, and more.
By alternating between administrative tasks and direct collaboration with partners, I feel that I gained a well-rounded experience, blending my academic studies, professional development, and personal interests. I can't imagine a better way this experience could have been structured. The idea that previous interns were able to experience this opportunity in person is almost surreal to me—I can only imagine how extraordinary their experiences must have been.
I left each team after a month with a sense of regret, knowing how much I had valued our collaboration. While my internship may be ending, my relationship with the Forum of Federations is not; we have mutually agreed to continue this meaningful collaboration in the years to come.