Precinct Alumni and University Students Working Together through Virtual Global Internships
In 2021, we introduced a high concentration of virtual programming at the Presidential Precinct. Some of these modalities were temporary, including an all-virtual Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2021. But others opened new doors that would endure much longer than COVID-19 related restrictions.
Now, in 2023, we have completed the third year of our Virtual Global Internships program, presented in partnership with the International Studies Office at the University of Virginia. In this program, undergraduate University students are paired with Presidential Precinct program alumni and serve as interns working 10-15 hours/week for an alum’s organization – NGO, business, government agency, or other venture.
Interns work on a wide range of projects identified by their host organizations, including but not limited to: strategic planning, business planning, research, fundraising and proposal support, writing and editing, program development, communications and marketing, project evaluation, and digital communications. Partners in the International Studies Office work diligently to pair students and alumni based on their interests and field of study.
“Our partnership with the Presidential Precinct and its remarkable alumni network has been genuinely valuable to us in Education Abroad at UVA,” said Dr. Ingrid Hakala, Global Internships Director in the International Studies Office. “We have continued to appreciate that this virtual program provides students with a unique opportunity to develop meaningful relationships, to engage in substantive work, and to learn about on-the-ground conditions alongside inspiring individuals in international locations which are not regularly visited in traditional education abroad programs.”
57 University of Virginia students have now participated in a Virtual Global Internship with Presidential Precinct alumni. Below, we have gathered just a few vignettes from the 2023 internship groupings.
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The Botswana Mine Workers Union
Precinct Alum: Kitso Phiri, Executive Secretary
UVA Students: Seonbin Song & Jared Nigro
At the start of the summer, the Botswana Mine Workers Union had just adopted its strategic plan for 2023-2028. Student interns were tasked with communicating this plan out to union members and the general public, specifically the younger generation, with hopes of recruiting new entrants in the mining sector into the Union. Key pillars of the strategic plan include capacity building for the members of the Union, transformation of the Union to appeal to new stakeholders, and improving upon the sustainability of mineral extraction in Botswana. The Botswana Mine Workers Union was founded in 1967 and is the only mine workers union in the country.
From UVA student Seonbin Song: “Ultimately, I found my internship with the Botswana Mine Workers Union to be a rewarding, if challenging experience that not only helped me learn much about the finer details of a labor union’s practical operations, but aided in my growth as a team member and leader.”
“The world of work as we know it is changing everywhere, and mining is not exempt from that,” said Kitso, who was impressed by the students’ and their knowledge of public policy. “You could tell there was a lot of passion,” he added.
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Precinct Alum: Wuraoluwa Ayodele, Executive Director
UVA Students: Kate Johnson, Taylor Ryder
This was the third summer that Women Safe House has participated in the Virtual Global Internships program. Students had the opportunity to speak directly with women that the safe house serves, better understanding the challenges faced by Wura and her team at a personal level. They each presented their own research and writings on key principles of Women Safe House’s work, including intersectionality and gender mainstreaming. Wura was also able to work with the students to elevate the social media presence for Women Safe House, noting that social media is one of the key methods for informing area women of what the safe house offers.
From UVA student Kate Johnson: “This summer, I became more aware of gender-based violence issues, the global fight for women’s rights, and Nigerian culture.”
Women Safe House Sustenance Initiative is a survivor and feminist-led nonprofit established in Nigeria that focuses on activisms for the rights and safety of women and girls from gender-based violence. By engaging in public campaigns, educational programs, and community outreach initiatives, the organization strives to change societal attitudes and create an environment that is intolerant of violence against women and girls.
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Precinct Alum: Eyerusalem Belay, Co-Founder
UVA Students: Megnot Abebe, Hermela Berhanu
ThinkSpace is a fairly new organization, working to unite the passion of civic activists with thorough research and evidence-based strategies for their work. UVA students were able to compare methods of civic engagement across cultures and do some of their own research on advocacy support for young students in Ethiopia as well as work on developing tools and resources for the wider civil society space.
UVA student Hermela Berhanu said: “I quickly learned that when tackling social and political issues, educating the general public and building awareness of tools that may aid these issues in the first and most fundamental step,” also adding, “my virtual internship allowed me to tackle a relevant issue in a country so close to my heart, while also having the freedom to work individually.” Berhanu’s experience was magnified by the fact that she had previously traveled to Addis Ababa.
From the organization’s website: “ThinkSpace aims to tackle social problems through research and evidence-based civic engagement as well as create a space for networking, collaboration, co-creation, and co-learning within local civic society and civic leaders.”
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University partnerships remain at the core of the Presidential Precinct’s model. Virtual Global Internships illustrate a powerful intersection of these partnerships and our growing alumni network. A special thanks to Dr. Ingrid Hakala, her team at UVA’s International Studies Office, and to our program alumni who continue to share their expertise throughout our network every day. We are grateful to facilitate this clear example of mutual benefit and creative collaboration.
