My fellowship working for Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) and Women in Action for Women (WAW) was an incredibly impactful experience, both personally and professionally. I learned so much in just 10 weeks from working alongside the dedicated staff at GDPU and WAW and living in Northern Uganda. In my graduate program, I have focused on localization and the role that INGOs may play in the development and humanitarian spheres. Working directly for local community-based organizations has reaffirmed some of those learnings, but also altered some perspectives and exposed me to new challenges and roles I had not thought of before. The direct project development and implementation experience gained through this fellowship will benefit me for the rest of my academic and professional career. I am deeply indebted to the Advocacy Project for this opportunity.

Being involved with The Advocacy Project proved to be a transformative journey for me. It provided me with hands-on experience and exposure to both civic engagement and social welfare, offering valuable insights. Delving into the lives of tribal communities and engaging with them laid the groundwork for comprehending diverse cultures and mindsets. This experience has equipped me with the skills to align these varied perspectives in a unified manner, fostering awareness of our cause- combating Malaria. This experience underscored the importance of collaborative, community-driven approaches in addressing public health challenges and left me with a profound appreciation for the transformative power of informed, grassroots efforts in the fight against such infectious diseases. This fellowship helped me gain more maturity and recognize the essence of humanity, by bringing people together to be a part of a change that will result in a better and healthier tomorrow. 

My 10 weeks spent in Kenya were one of the most adventurous and meaningful experiences of my life. I worked with the wonderful staff at Children Peace Initiative Kenya (CPI Kenya) and the Advocacy Project supporting the creation of two new startups that expand CPI Kenya’s peace-building programs and introduce climate change adaptation strategies for pastoralist communities. I’m extremely grateful to the Advocacy Project for this opportunity, as they were also great supporters and collaborators during my fellowship. This opportunity has helped me learn firsthand how to plan and create new programs and how to practically center the beneficiaries of a program from creation to launch. Through it all, I gained a better understanding of how community-based organizations and local NGOs operate and the variety of hurdles they face.

Spending ten weeks this summer in Nairobi, Kenya was an experience I will never forget. I'm incredibly grateful to AP staff and Stella Makena for making this opportunity a reality. While in Kenya, I worked closely with Stella to help her implement and scale a composting project with Shield of Faith's 20 members. I also had the wonderful opportunity of working with AP Quilt Coordinators Bobbi Fitzsimmons and Merry May in Nairobi to facilitate two 4-day long sewing training sessions. By working on both of these projects, I got acquainted with Shield of Faith's 20 members and established lasting relationships with them. The women truly took me under their wings as one of their own. Throughout it all, I gained vast knowledge about project implementation and data collection. Stella is a fantastic mentor. Under her leadership and AP's guidance, I am confident that these two projects will be a sweeping success!

Being a part of The Advocacy Project team has been nothing short of a wonderful, enriching experience. I am so grateful to have worked with Shahed to help expand the Mayadip community feeding kitchen by constructing a second boat. I am equally as honored to have partnered with Dr. Manu and Jeevanrekha Parishad volunteers on our ambitious COVID-19 vaccination campaign in India. To my AP team, Iain and Delaney, I will never forget the positive work environment you both created.  As a student, I expanded my worldview on sustainable development and teamwork. As a person, I am forever changed. Thank you for a wonderful summer.

Working with the Advocacy Project, Children’s Peace Initiative Kenya, NEFAD Nepal, and more has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. I am grateful to the CPI and AP teams for providing me with a supportive environment to explore my interests in conflict, communications, climate change, and fundraising work. Most importantly, AP’s focus on using unique solutions to solve pressing problems made for situations where I could utilize critical and creative thinking skills – my completed tasks include anything and everything ranging from making plates to researching World Bank grants. These opportunities allowed me to gain a concrete understanding of how community-based organizations and nonprofits successfully function.

This summer, I worked with Women Advocacy Project (WAP) in Harare, Zimbabwe. In conjunction with WAP leaders, I accomplished many of our goals. Some of the proudest moments for me were: setting up the new facility and having it up and running; organizing and improving WAP financial management system; preparing a preliminary budget for the upcoming three years, training some of the WAP girls in using Excel; obtaining a car donation for WAP; cutting the cost of production in multiple areas; finding a way to recycle and reduce the use of plastic in production; having the whole facility run on solar energy; making various areas of production more time efficient and user-friendly; collecting data and preliminary information for the education fund; and last but not least being able to organize an opening ceremony for all the WAP beneficiaries. While I am proud of my achievements, I also have to acknowledge a series of challenges I faced as well. Some of the challenges were: constant power outages, water shortage, broken vehicles, cultural differences, and a different concept of work ethic and time management. My time in WAP was full of ups and downs. Through it all, I learned and grew personally and professionally. I am pleased about the contribution I made during my ten weeks toward WAP’s goal to become a self-sufficient business. I am confident that WAP will successfully continue serving the girls from vulnerable communities in the future.

As my experience comes to a close, my biggest skill and takeaway from this summer is the power of words and storytelling across various fields. This space and practice paved the way for life-long relationships and a cohesive learning experience, not only for fellows and staff but for partners to see the effect that their unbreakable dedication to a cause has on people thousands of miles away. All in all, it was really interesting to see the work of past fellows and also how their experiences juxtapose ours as we worked in two different eras and situations in the world. Lastly, this summer has taught me the importance of curiosity and sharing ideas— I am excited to take these skills with me wherever my trajectory is. The community of fellows and AP staff create such a special environment tailored to learning, advocacy, and mobilization that I have not found in past fellowships.

For the last ten weeks, I had the privilege of interning with Gulu Disabled Person's Union (GDPU) in Uganda. To start, this experience would not have been possible without Advocacy Project and the strong bond they have with GDPU and other NGOs, allowing graduate student's like myself to spend a summer gaining hands-on experience of working with various organizations around the globe. To sum up my experience in a nut-shell, it was incredible and unforgettable, an experience I would repeat in a heartbeat that I will cherish forever. Upon arrival in Gulu, I was welcomed with open arms and kindness one can only describe as Ugandan hospitality; a true representation of the country synonymous with the slogan "The Pearl of Africa." Being involved in overseeing the construction of a latrine and girl's changing room (not to mention the renovation of the existing stances), was an eye-opening experience that truly allowed me to witness the benefit of local engagement in a project that combines the knowledge and guidance of Ugandans, with the monetary support and trust from Advocacy Project in DC. This summer strengthened the love I have for working with nonprofits and I hope to find myself in Gulu in the near future.

Working with the Advocacy Project this year has been a fulfilling experience.  Alongside our partners at Children Peace Initiative-Kenya, I have been able to explore my interests in international development at the intersection of climate change, economics, and conflict. The collaborative environment gave me the support I needed while also pushing me to refine my skills. The prioritization of experts such as those at CPIK sets a great example for those entering the field on the effectiveness of locally-driven development.

I was fortunate enough to receive the opportunity to work with returned migrants in Dakar, Senegal this summer through AP. In Dakar I met three groups (OPEN SARL, Naatal Sendou, and Nouvelle Vision) working on migration and development issues. This fellowship allowed me to utilize and expand upon my skills collaborating with these three groups to help organize and secure funding for projects initiated and led by the communities themselves. AP centers local communities and their work by amplifying their voices through skill-building projects and start-up initiatives. Migration is a complex issue and its effects run deep. This fellowship was a great opportunity to provide more nuance to the discussion and to put faces to the stories often read about passively online. I hope that this fellowship will reframe migration as a normal and necessary process that people take when they have exhausted all other options; centering returned migrants, their stories, and the lessons they have learned along the way.

The Advocacy Project is an impactful place to work because it centers the voices of its partners. At the core of AP's philosophy is the belief that partners know best how to address the needs of their communities; as a result, our work is inherently collaborative rather than prescriptive. I had the privilege of supporting two AP partners in Gulu, Uganda this summer: the Gulu Disabled Person's Union and Women in Action for Women. Although my time in person was cut short due to COVID, I continued to support our partners remotely. Besides gaining practical skills like budgeting and grant writing with the aim of helping entrepreneurs scale up their businesses, I also gained immense theoretical knowledge about post-conflict development in northern Uganda. Specifically, I researched the Ongwen case before the International Criminal Court and reparations for victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity. I would like to thank the AP team for their support and friendship during such challenging times.

My past summer with The Advocacy Project was productive. I specifically supported the soap-making project and the embroidery business led by women in Kenya. It was a great and unique opportunity to work with local communities and help them achieve sustainable goals. Working closely with local partners broadened my horizons and ensured me one more time that economic development and growth cannot be achieved without including local partners. 

The Advocacy Project is an incredible organization that is making lasting change around the world.  It has definitely been a special experience to be a Quilt Fellow this past summer.  I am looking forward to buying the quilt catalogs when they are completed.  Working with AP is rewarding and I value it very much.  I appreciate Iain for giving me the opportunity to learn more about the organization and contribute in some way.  If you are considering applying for the fellowship, you should definitely reach out to one of the staff and get more information.

It has been a great opportunity working with AP during the summer from Liberia. I learned a lot more than I thought I knew about the 2014-2016  Ebola crisis in Liberia through my activities with the Ebola Survivors Network. The situation of Ebola survivors provides a window of opportunity to forecast what the future looks like for persons recovering from covid-19. Ebola survivors in Liberia, and probably everywhere face a myriad of difficulties, health, economic and psychosocial. The fact that in Liberia they are not receiving the requisite care and attention they need, as we learned, compounds their difficulties. My AP Fellowship also provided me the avenue to assess what can be done, and as I have written during the summer, policymakers need to pay attention to survivors of pandemics and epidemics.

My past summer with The Advocacy Project has been one of the most rewarding summers I have spent. Not only was I able to help spearhead 2 major projects capable of feeding many of those considered forgotten in their societies but I also felt that serious bonds were made. Working closely with our partners have opened my eyes to the entire field of NGO work and shows simply how vast and unending the work will be. For those hungry to get their foot in the door, this is a great place to start.

Working with The Advocacy Project this summer was truly one of my most meaningful experiences. The team at AP - Iain, Abby, Delaney, and all the other peace fellows truly create a very supportive community where each one of us is incredibly passionate about our projects and has a clear vision of what we want to do. I worked on the Zimbabwe Soap Project and despite being in two different continents, the Women Advocacy Project in Zimbabwe and us here were able to work towards our shared vision of creating meaningful change throughout the globe. I particularly appreciate that peace fellows work together with our community partners and come up with ideas. The involvement of our partners is what made my experience so memorable. It was wonderful working with AP and I am so excited to continue my internship here even after the summer.

I had an amazing summer working with the Advocacy Project. When it comes to NGO or non-profit work, it can be hard to find a cause to dedicate your work to. However, AP’s vision is much more than finding a cause, it’s about filling the gaps and empowering people to have the tools to make a change in their communities. One of the projects that I was helping with was our partner Stella’s composting project. Stella wanted to find a solution to the nutrition problem in her slum so she had an idea, a start-up. Through her, we were able to reach so many women who got involved with the project. Stella was just our link to the community, we were just there to fill in the gaps: come up with a budget, giving advice on the project outline, etc. But they were the ones making the change. I am so grateful for this opportunity as it provided me a unique perspective and helped me meet amazing people around the world. Thanks to Iain and the AP team for an incredible summer!

Serving as a Peace Fellow with the Advocacy Project was an incredible opportunity that allowed me to have a firsthand experience with international development efforts. Specifically, working with GDPU's soap project allowed me to mix business growth and international development--something I am passionate about. The Advocacy Project team was incredibly supportive and cares deeply about the projects they partner with. I am thankful for my time and the experience and am excited to see where GDPU and other partners succeed in the future.

I had such a wonderful semester working at the Advocacy Project this past semester. I had always hoped that I would feel as if I was making a difference in the world, yet this can often be difficult. However, from just a few short months working at AP, I am certain that I have made lasting impressions on the betterment of others. I have helped people fighting child marriage in Zimbabwe to starting a project to help women abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army to tell their stories through quiltmaking. In many of the meetings, our partners expressed how thankful they were that we were assisting them, but it always felt like an honor to provide help. I am so thankful that AP has given me these different opportunities to become involved in these different important projects. Beyond projects, working at AP has also helped me to develop many skills that can be beneficial in any future job. I am a near whiz at website building and have even learned basic HTML skills, among many other skills. Thank you to Iain and Mary Ellen for making my time at AP so worthwhile and phenomenal!

Although the entire experience was from my home in Cabin John, Maryland, my work for the Advocacy Project allowed me to feel connected to communities around the world. I had opportunities to meet and get to know new friends in Nepal who are making “Tiger Bags,” and I regularly communicated with new friends in Uganda as we worked together on developing a logo for their soap company. My work was very inspirational to me. Through the Advocacy Project, I was able to learn about amazing people around the world, like Mama Cave -- a mask maker in Uganda. Mama Cave’s dedication to making masks for her community inspired me to make many more for my own community. I was also inspired by the hundreds of quilt squares that people around the world are creating together with the Advocacy Project. The quilting helped me to understand how powerful art can be for storytelling and advocacy.

The summer of 2020 will certainly go down in history as one of the strangest ever. With the onset of COVID-19 I wasn't sure what was in-store for a "remote" internship, but thanks to Iain, Mary Ellen, the other assistants, and three Peace Fellows my experience was beyond what I could have ever hoped. The bi-weekly Zoom meetings with our small team created a wonderful sense of community and close collaboration with Iain helped advance my understanding of the non-profit sector. Additionally, due to the flexibility of being an assistant at AP I got to try various new jobs, including coordinating social media, fundraising, and contacting our on-site partners. Being an assistant at AP and working with Iain has definitely given me a desire to pursue the international development sector further!

My fall with the Advocacy Project has been such a rewarding experience. Through my virtual internship, I was able to interact and work with inspiring men and women in the US, Kenya, and Uganda. I spent my time working to help manage some of AP’s partner projects. I worked alongside Patrick and Emma, who are running the soap, mask, and toilet project in Uganda. I was absolutely amazed by Patrick and Emma’s level of dedication and passion. I was also able to conduct podcast interviews with young high school women in Arlington VA about their experiences with COVID-19. Those podcasts were used to advertise their COVID-19 quilt project. Along with this I helped coordinate the animal square project in Nairobi. It was such a privilege to work with Iain, Mary Ellen, and my fellow interns this fall, they all taught me the power of collaboration and perseverance. I can’t wait to see all of these amazing things AP does in the future!

My Summer with the Advocacy Project: I consider myself very lucky to be have been able to have worked with the Advocacy Project even if it was remotely. Under my role of Website IT Assistant, I worked on creating pages, posts, and edits to the website using WordPress, a program I had never used before. Yet, with the aid and patience of Iain and the rest of the team, I grew more familiar with it and got the hang of it by the end of the summer. In other words, if I can do it, anyone can do it! As a newbie into the nonprofit sector and world, I felt like I was embraced by the best team and owe my positive experience to the people. Thank you to the summer 2020 Team for being so amazing. I miss you all and hopefully we can meet up in person one day!

It is not often when you have an experience in your life that radically changes you view the world. Or it happens often. I don’t know, I’m only 22. But my time at AP has given me invaluable insights into the world of non-profit work, and that challenges one faces in this field. You need to adapt and overcome, and be willing to confront large institutions (I’m looking at you Kindle) to attain your goal. As the Creative Development Assistant, I worked on the graphic design materials on projects such as our Sister Artists catalogue and the brochures used for the Textile Museum display. I also worked on a wide variety of duties, ranging from assisting with finances, procuring materials, and reaching out to our donors. I became the office design guru, resident long hair guy, and had the amazing privilege of working with some of the most talented people ever. Iain, Luisa, Millie, Oriana, Gio, Mary-Ellen and Riley are some of the most hardworking coworkers one could ask for. I had the wonderful privilege to do this kind of work, and have gained so much from this internship.  

Working with The Advocacy Project was a truly incredible experience that has enriched my life. Fall ’19, I had the pleasure of working as AP's Social Media and Marketing Assistant. I am so grateful to Iain and Karen for the opportunity to intern with them because it is truly like no other introductory internship. You get treated like an equal and AP genuinely values your opinions. I really can’t express how great of a learning opportunity this is if you want to have lots of responsibility and a real impact in your organization. AP is an amazing organization that 1) gives a greater meaning to your work with the social change it fosters globally 2) will present you with as much responsibility as you want along with the opportunity to build a wide variety of skills. I have gained so much from this internship, professionally and personally, and AP will always have a special place in my heart.

My time at the Advocacy Project was nothing short of turbulent, with COVID-19 eventually forcing the intern team to work remotely with Iain and Mary Ellen. Despite this, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that working at the Advocacy Project is an experience I will cherish forever. AP expects its interns to take on a lot of responsibility within the organization unlike many internships in this field, which left me with the feeling that I actually made a difference and the work I did was substantial. During my time here, I worked on numerous projects and was able to gain experience in a number of different categories: fundraising, financials, administration, research, tech support, among others. This organization, its people, its work for marginalized communities, and the opportunities it provided me as an intern will forever hold a place in my heart. I cannot thank Iain enough for his kindness, energy, sarcasm, and for imparting some of his trademark passion for this cause onto myself. But keeping Iain in line is A LOT of work - future interns, be ready to crack the whip to keep this old fart on track! And take every assignment, task, challenge that the Advocacy Project throws at you - it’s worth it. 

Although my time at the Advocacy Project was cut short, I felt like I have acquired a lifetime worth of knowledge and life lessons. Not only did I have the privilege of working with such a driven and kind-hearted team, but I was also able to help people in countries much different than my own. I learned about a variety of international issues and worked with an organization that does good and impacts the world in a positive way. The work done at the Advocacy Project showed me first-hand the compassion and selflessness that helps communities that need it most. Working at the Advocacy Project inspired me to do more and is a milestone in my life.  Once again Iain thank you for giving me this opportunity to work with you and the team at AP. It has truly been an honor and a privilege to work with such a wonderful organization. We will stay in touch!  

My internship with the Advocacy Project was extremely rewarding in many different senses. As the communications assistant, I developed various skills that I hope to employ in my future careers. I also learned so much about content and website development, as well as the logistics of international development and project management. AP is truly a place where you can make a difference in people’s lives across the globe and still feel deeply connected to their stories. I consider myself very fortunate for having this opportunity and I can’t thank Iain enough for his support and encouragement through my time with AP!

My time at AP was an experience that I will never forget and was such a significant part of my undergrad experience! I learned a lot at AP as the Social Media and Fellowship Assistant. While the work that was done in relation to the fellowships did not get to pan out due to COVID-19, it was a process that I was very grateful to be part of. The people that I met while at AP have shown me that there are many hard working people dedicating themselves to fulfilling an important purpose by supporting those that are the most in need of it across the globe. Through this internship, I was able to gain an invaluable hands on experience by helping put on an exhibition, interviewing potential fellows, and gained insight into the vast amount of work that goes into running a non-profit organization. Thank you to Iain,  AP, and all the wonderful people that I was lucky enough to work with, you made it a truly unforgettable experience!

"It was a privilege to work at AP as the fundraising and outreach assistant and an overall amazing experience as my first internship. Working alongside as experienced a mentor as Iain Guest was a pleasure, and I truly feel that I have gained a lot of valuable personal and professional skills through this experience. I will be staying in touch, and wish AP the best in all future endeavors!"

My time with the Advocacy Project has been nothing short of amazing! I had the great privilege to work with a dedicated, passionate and fun-loving team! I really enjoyed and embraced the challenge of stepping out of my comfort zone, getting involved with using Adobe Illustrator, HTML/CSS code writing and spreadsheets. It was a great learning experience, and I enjoyed getting to know more about AP partners and AP's model of change. Time flies when you are having fun and making an impact. In a blink of an eye, my chapter with AP and my time in Washington is coming to a close. I will hold on to these memories dearly, and would certainly miss everyone on the team! I wish nothing but success for the organization! Best wishes to everyone, I will miss you all!   Till next time, everybody!     

My internship at AP has taught me more than any other. For one, I had the opportunity to gain many new useful skills like website development, as well as general knowledge about non-profit/program management. But the best part was that I felt like I was genuinely contributing to AP's daily functions. The advice and opinions of interns were taken seriously, and we were always offered opportunities to learn new skills and topics.

My experience at AP exceeded all expectations. This summer I worked on a wide range of projects and learned more than I could have possibly imagined. From organizing an exhibition at a UN summit to designing several new webpages (and everything in between), I felt that my contributions were truly valued. I'm so thankful to be a part of such a special organization, and I'm excited to continue to follow AP's worldwide impact in the years to come.

Working with AP has helped me to gain hands on experience in the non-profit sector as well as valuable insight into the challenges and triumphs that come with supporting innovative start ups for social change.

The Advocacy Project has a functional and inspiring mission and it was an absolute pleasure to work for them. I learned a lot and will definitely take these skills with me as I pursue a career.

"I loved my time at AP. As the Social Media and Marketing Intern AP allowed me the freedom to be creative, adapt to a learning curve, and manage my own time, while also keeping me accountable with plenty of responsibility. There was never a dull moment. Plus, there is always chocolate laying around!"

AP is absolutely incredible. From my first day to my last day there was never a dull moment in my work. Though AP is small, you can see your work making a huge different to the organization and its members. Every task, document, and email was significant and you really are doing tangible work that does benefit our partners in the long run. AP has been my most rewarding work experience yet and I will stay in touch

Spending a semester with The Advocacy Project was an invaluable experience. I expected to learn a lot about the nonprofit world and development, but never could have predicted how much I would take away from this internship. Karen and Iain are two of the most hardworking and dedicated people I have ever met, and I learned so much from them. I gained a massive skillset related to my position as the Marketing and Outreach Assistant, but also gained personal and professional confidence, mentors and friends. I will miss AP so much, but cannot wait to hear about the successes of AP in the future.

My internship experience at the Advocacy Project was overwhelmingly positive. I held the position of Fundraising Assistant, but was able to learn much more than just how to raise money. I learned how to communicate effectively with interns and supervisors alike, how to be a full-time student and a part-time intern at the same time, how to prioritize tasks, and I've learned how rewarding it is to work with an organization whose mission and values you wholeheartedly support. This was a great first internship experience, and I will continue to support AP for years to come.

" AP is much more than a nonprofit organization. It is a whole world in itself and I love how driven and passionate people are about the work they do here. I consider myself very fortunate and blessed to be part of the mission of AP. I have learned so much and got the opportunity to wear so many hats during my time here, which has helped me both personally and professionally. AP will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you Karen and Iain for being the best mentors. "

Working at the Advocacy Project has been an incredible experience to say the least. It was humbling to work under the supervision of Karen and Iain and among the other interns in our DC office. We worked efficiently as a team, all while having fun and staying true to AP's mission and vision. Not only have I learned a lot, grown professionally, and gained confidence, but I can now call AP my home.

"My internship at AP truly transformed me from a student to a viable candidate for a career in international development. I have learned so much about the incredible work AP does all over the world and it has helped me become motivated to start the next chapter of my life in the professional world. Karen and Iain are great mentors, and I hope to stay involved with AP in the future."

"My internship at AP helped me grow in many ways, namely what vocational route I'll pursue in the future as well as challenging my writing abilities through constructive criticism. It was through this engaging experience that I'll now be more equipped to take the next step in searching and securing a position in the nonprofit sector.

I am extremely grateful for my time with The Advocacy Project. I learned a great deal and am now well-versed in ongoing and prevalent issues surrounding marginalized communities around the world. As an Intern, you are highly valued as a team member and the skills you gain throughout are irreplaceable.

As the Development Assistant, I researched possible funding for AP and their partners. This was an amazing experience which allowed me to learn about the wonderful work that AP and their partners do.

"Working with The Advocacy Project not only provided me with skills to further my own professional development, but also afforded me the opportunity to support global human rights in a direct, palpable way. Interning with AP taught me to be a leader and take initiative in my work: from building a website to assisting with presentations for graduate students, AP exposed me to a world of academia and professionalism that, as a first generation college student, I would not have otherwise had access to. I am grateful to have been able to learn under the guidance of Karen and Iain in working to empower marginalized groups globally".

As a Fundraising and Outreach Assistant, I was in charge in maintaining and updating AP's Donor Database, managing AP's Global Giving Campaigns and keeping track of all donations, managing Constant Contact, sending thank you notes to AP donors, posting Bulletins to the AP WordPress website, and attending Outreach Events. I was also responsible for fundraising online through Global Giving for the Use Soap to Empower 60 Rape Survivors in Mali campaign during the 2018 Little by Little Campaign. During my time at AP, I learned a lot about human rights, development, peace, as well as fundraising, non-profit management, and outreach. I have gained more skills during a short period of time. It has been such a memorable and rewarding experience!

"The massive influence, the positive impact, the social change that AP promotes is so impressive that nobody would believe me when I told them AP is run just by Iain, Karen and a team of 4 interns. Though, for me, it was not a surprise--our small office in DC was filled with dedication, ambition, and faith in better futures for those who are marginalized. Hence, the great, family-like, work environment led to productivity and efficiency--as an intern, I could truly feel that I was a part of something bigger than myself. In our AP family, my voice, my opinions, my input mattered! As the Coordinator for Fundraising and Outreach, I was given the opportunity to be creative, be in charge, be responsible for real actionable tasks. Karen and Iain empowered me, so that I could empower AP's partners. From conducting outreach activities in federal departments to creating and executing fundraising strategies on behalf of our partners, I had many favorite moments that I am proud of. If you are looking for a hands-on internship experience where you will learn a lot, AP is for you too!"

"As an AP intern my official title was Peace Fellowship Assistant, but during my 4 months at AP I was able to experience far more than that title suggests. I supported the website update as we organized all the content AP provides online, represented AP at local events, and researched potential funding possibilities just to name a few of my responsibilities. The nature of AP's small staff is no one is isolated to a single specialty, but has to pitch in where needed. This was a great way for me to sample the gamut of what a small NGO does. The small staff also leads to a tight-knit group that supports and teaches each other on a daily basis. I feel so lucky to have been a part of the AP team. Beyond the work I did for AP, I learned so much from the conversations and interactions with AP's staff both in DC and from the field. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your noble work and giving me the chance to learn from what you do. I'll make sure to stay in touch!"

My internship with The Advocacy Project (AP) was a once in a lifetime experience. Not only was I able to expand my knowledge of social media platforms and strategies, but I was able to see the inner workings of a successful nonprofit organization. I began HTML coding, assisted in administrative duties, attended events, and so much more in my time with AP. This internship helped me find the career path I am most passionate about. I know that this experience aided me in securing a spot in a Master's development studies program at the University of Manchester. I cannot thank the team at The Advocacy Project enough for their expertise, capacity for multiple issues in international development and friendship. 

“The Advocacy Project plucked me from college obscurity when they showcased their Middle Eastern Refugee Quilt at my university. It was love at first sight. I fell in love with AP’s message and mission and knew I just had to work for them. After our first meeting I reached out and secured a summer internship. On my first day at the office they showed me the couch that they had and said that I could nap there whenever. From that moment I know I had chosen the right place to intern at! After arriving I truly got to know AP’s mission and how they operated first hand. My official title was the outreach and fundraising assistant but I did more than just that. By being the outreach intern I got to meet with and Skype with many different organizations. I learned how to conduct meetings and how to work towards a common goal with these organizations. However, I learned so much more than that. I learned basic html (never thought that would be something I would ever learn or ever want to learn), catalogue design, excel, and a lot more. I had already respected AP’s mission of working with marginalized and underserved populations but once becoming an intern I grew to love it. AP never tried to come off as ‘white saviors’ coming in and telling these community organizations what to do. Instead they strove to build the capacity and the capability of these organizations. They were also so careful to not hijack the narratives of these communities for their own gain they made sure that the voices of these people were heard loud in clear. I am so grateful for my time with AP working with Karen, Iain, Natalie, and Bri was so rewarding. We were such a team working together to support everyone’s job to be an effective non-profit. I will miss them all dearly but I know I’ll be seeing them soon!”

“As the AP social media assistant, I have had the ability to virtually keep up with our summer peace fellows! I had the opportunity to invest my time in learning about AP’s partner organizations, and the fellowship program. Before this experience, I undoubtedly considered myself a social media guru, but this summer, this skill has grown to what I would call a ‘social media junkie.’ My everyday tasks consisted mostly of tracking our nine fellows through their journeys abroad and reporting them to the various social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr etc.). However, I also edited video, edited pictures, designed graphics, assisted with basic office tasks, and collaborated with my co-interns on GlobalGiving appeals, fundraising and event ideas, and partner organizations. I was even able to connect with AP’s supporters through the writing of blog digests to highlight the fellows blog postings. AP truly lives up to the notion of “small but mighty.” AP’s commitment is truly inspiring. I have seen AP accomplish so much in just a few short months, and for that I am grateful to have been able to support such an influential organization.”

“As the fellowship assistant at AP, I have had the opportunity to work with and for marginalized communities around the world. AP is a model of a successful operation working to support organizations doing much needed work in their communities. Rather than coming in with an agenda and a budget, AP asks what is needed and works with the locals instead of over their heads. This is one of the many thins I admire about Iain and the team – they are not afraid to be humble and do the dirty work to help the job get done. My work here included helping with the Fellowship hiring process for this summer. I helped post job listings, review applications, interview, set up training, etc. I also helped with writing the Annual report and updating some parts of the website. Don’t be misled, though: while we do work hard, this group is like a family and we have a blast working together (and eat lots and lots and lots of chocolates). I feel that I learned more this semester than I possibly could have imagined, and I really understand how much of a jack of all trades you need to be to run a nonprofit. I am so so grateful to AP for the opportunity to learn and grow as a person, student and future NGO employee. AP is doing something right, and I am honored to have been a part of it this semester.”

“What can I say about my time at AP? I was so lucky to have the opportunity to work here for almost nine months. As the social media intern (for the first three months, with a promotion to Social Media Coordinator), I was the voice behind AP’s community updates. But my job was so much more than that. If I had seen things like “create promotional graphics,” “lead crowdfunding campaigns,” and “edit and troubleshoot HTML code for the website” on the job application, I don’t think I would have bothered applying! But after my time at AP, I can proudly say that I would apply to an identical position with confidence. That’s what I grew to adore about AP’s small office: nobody was expected to know everything, and everybody would eventually learn something. After being with AP for less than a month, I was teaching my fellow intern Catalina how to add her bio to the website. After being at AP for about three months, I was learning new editing software; another four months later, I was teaching it to AP’s director Iain and the 2017 Peace Fellows. And somewhere around my third month with AP, I could identify a Peace Fellow from 2012 by one grainy photo, dive into their Flickr album, and find a better quality version of the same photo. I guess that’s a side effect of interning with AP when there are no Fellows out in the field! I will forever be grateful to AP for all that they have done for me. Closing an almost two-year gap on my resume; opening my eyes to what life is like outside of the USA; teaching me so many new skills; making me hone and update my existing skills; and introducing me to so many wonderful coworkers: Karen, Catalina, Nola, Angelique, Bri, Talia, and Natalie (not to mention this year’s Peace Fellows). These last nine months have been truly wonderful, and I will always look back upon my time at AP fondly.”

“I became the Jane of all Trades because of AP. From being an electrician to coordinating events, it was like getting to try a new piece of chocolate from a See’s Candy box! As a fundraising assistant, I was in-charge of maintaining the donor database and drafting emails to AP’s massive network. All while getting the hang of Global Giving, Network for Good and Constant Contact, I took on the role of Communications and Media Outreach Assistant. Every day was different, filled with a variety of work from designing graphics, to asking my friends and family in helping with a Global Giving campaign appeal. I even learned basic HTML coding! The biggest project I managed was quilt outreach. I coordinated events with solidarity groups from various universities. I’ve gained invaluable skills, knowledge and lasting friendships from my time at AP. Here I am thinking I would be contributing to marginalized communities, little did I know how much this experience would return to me in ten-folds. I am incredibly proud to be a part of a truly impactful organization. Cheers!”

“The Advocacy Project is small but mighty. In the time of my 10-week internship, I shared the office with two amazing women, Kate and Karen, who not only were colleagues but also became friends. With them I stepped into the strange world of DC, where most weeks I was schlepping around a massive quilt and a bucket of candy, trying to convince the federal DC population to donate to our organization. My time at AP expanded me as a person, and I don’t just mean through DC’s happy hours. I learned how to edit websites (I also learned how to calm down after thinking I deleted the website), Excel spreadsheets, donation platforms, and how to kindly harass people through email. “The Advocacy Project is a wonderful organization doing much needed work in a world that is in great need of more compassion. It was a privilege to work along side such admirable people.”

“‘Social Media Assistant’ is my official job title. What this means is that I was in charge of AP’s social media accounts, responsible for updating followers on organizational projects and expanding our network. If I’m being honest, my daily routine consisted of virtually stalking the Peace Fellows (who I now feel like I know better than I know myself), and frequently shouting into the void that is Twitter. There were times when I seriously considered writing, “Hello? Is anyone AT ALL listening?”(I would like to take this opportunity to give a shout-out our #1 fan and follower, my mom. Many thanks for all the notifications, they gave my life some meaning). A word cloud of my internship would depict the word “hashtag” in size 84 font. Also soap, but that’s an entirely different story. I truly could not have wished for a better experience. “I am tremendously grateful for my internship at the Advocacy Project, especially to have worked closely with people so passionate and so dedicated. I have learned a great deal over the course of the past ten weeks (specifically, perfecting the art of 140 characters #socialmediaproblems), and have acquired skills that I can apply throughout my life. It has been an incredible experience, one I will certainly miss and will never forget.”

“In the first week of my internship, Karen printed me out some business cards with the title of “Administrative Assistant” centered nicely below my name. Although this is a nice and very professional sounding job title, I think my business cards should be reprinted to read, “Princess Laura”. Every morning I begin my day with a nice cup of tea, I eat lunch outside in a garden filled with flowers, and I even get Tuesdays off work. Now, this may sound quite luxurious, but like every Disney princess I faced turmoil. I was locked in a dungeon for 10 weeks. Eighteen years worth of paperwork, a toilet, and I were all that inhabited this dungeon. It may have lacked a fire-breathing dragon, but my time in this dungeon consisted of developing a new filing system for the Advocacy Project. Cinderella had a Fairy Godmother, Rapunzel had her luscious locks to save her, and Princess Laura had filing folders and labels to the rescue. With hard work and a reliance on the Spotify “Confidence Boost” playlist, I am happy to report that I escaped the dungeon…and did it without the help of any Prince. Princess Laura and the rest of the AP “creature faces” went on to live happily ever after. “Reminiscing on my internship at the Advocacy Project, I cannot help but smile. Smile about the people and the work that this organization does. I am so grateful that this was my first office experience because I learned SO much about human right issues and the inner-workings of NGOs.”

“I didn’t have any IT experience before coming to the AP. On my first day, fellows were already asking me for help and I remember nodding slowly, warily saying, “I’m sure I can take care of that,” panicking. What did I sign up for? Now I dream in code. I have memorized {p style=”text-align: justify;”} {span style=”color: #000000;”} {span style=”font-size: small;”}. I live every day in fear of crashing the website, but luck has been on my side. Everyone says the website looks great, but most of the time I just hit different buttons until it works. We have had so many laughs inside our small but air conditioned office and we have lunch outside everyday in our little garden. I love that we never really know what to expect when we come into work, for instance, we have discovered that there is a coffin in the basement and a toilet in the filing closet. Despite the online learning curve, I have truly enjoyed my summer at the AP. “Interning at the AP has taught me many functional skills from learning how to create and manage a WordPress website to making a podcast. More than that, it has encouraged me to grow as a world citizen. I am more aware of other cultures and issues that underrepresented communities face than I was at the beginning of this summer, and I have so much more respect for people who dedicate themselves to doing non-profit work.”

“My main responsibility at AP is raising some money for the summer. I work with fellows on creating their fundraising appeals, work with Amanda to promote them on social media, and bombard my Facebook friends on AP campaigns. I also organize AP’s donor database and money raised in the past by chasing Iain and giving him a to-do list since he is the only one who knows about the funds that have come through since 1998. With things organized, I created many colorful pie charts which are to be found on the AP website.It is a very rewarding experience to intern at The Advocacy Project. I learned a lot about the everyday challenges facing small nonprofits and particularly advocates working in the field of conflict resolution, such as management, organization, communications, and fundraising. The best part, of course, is the friendly office culture and Iain’s countless bizarre stories!”

“One of my primary responsibilities this summer was photo editing. I quickly became acquainted with light, color, composition, and pressing the “auto adjust” button on the photo editor and taking credit for it. I also edited fellow’s videos from the field, using complex video software by pressing all the buttons and panicking until it turned out moderately well. My favorite and most stressful job was monitoring the security situation in all of the countries our peace fellows are working in. For someone who is usually 30 minutes late to work, I am still not sure why I was entrusted with the responsibility of this task. Either way, it was interesting and fun to try and translate headlines in broken English from Ugandan news apps. I am most well-known for refusing to write subject lines in my emails, leaving to run midday and returning unbearably sweaty (sincere apology to those who had to sit close to me), and getting into strange situations on the metro. All in all, this is the best job I’ve ever had. I have always wanted to work for a human rights based NGO, but did not think I would get the chance so early in my college career. Working at The Advocacy Project was a great reaffirmation that I want to work in the fields of international affairs, conflict resolution, and human rights for the rest of my life. It is a small staff and office, but everyone I have worked with here is so dedicated to the projects, causes, and human impact of our work that you would never know it was run by only nine people. I have loved being able to communicate with the Peace Fellows in the field, assist them, and see the direct and positive impact on communities abroad.”

“As the administrative assistant during the summer, I helped keep track of all the 2017 AP Fellows as they worked with partner organizations around the world. I got to learn alongside the Fellows at the May training, and quickly became immersed in the digital side of AP’s work. Aside from monitoring logistics and security in each country where we had a Fellow posted, I also updated and added to the online training materials available to the Fellows. I researched myriad topics like crowdfunding, peacebuilding, and videography to help ensure that our Fellows had all the tools they needed to support our partner organizations. Over the course of the summer, I was excited to become something of a website guru as I worked on updating the AP website and finding solutions for our partners’ websites. I learned how to use plugins, HTML and CSS coding, and all the little buttons that make WordPress work like a charm I had no idea that I could learn so much in just a few short months! AP gave me the chance to work with our partners on initiatives that amplify the voices of people who have powerful stories to tell. Even beyond the opportunity to build new skills and learn about the world of nonprofit work, AP gave me new friends and mentors for whom I am incredibly grateful. I’ll miss the office full of sunlight, quilts, and stories!”

“As the Programs Assistant, my role was to support the efforts of AP’s peace fellows abroad by providing research, creating learning modules, and writing training materials. Most specifically, I worked with our peace fellow in Nepal to curb the issue of child marriage and advocate for menstrual health management. Since I had access to a wealth of knowledge from NGO’s in D.C., I spent a large part of my summer running frantically around the city trying to make it to my next meeting with a women’s rights expert. These experts were way smarter and more important than me, so it didn’t help that I always showed up a sweaty mess– (unlike Rachel, who only glistened even more radiantly after a lunch-time run.) Since AP is just a one-room office, I would also take phones calls with women’s rights experts at the Starbucks down the street. This may not have been my brightest idea. One time, I remember passionately preaching about the need for menstrual health management in a quiet, yet completely full Starbucks… once I realized that I was attracting a lot of stares after saying the words “period” and “blood” and “uterus” over and over again… I had to move my conversation to a cafe table outside… where of course, I was welcomed with one of DC’s lovely thunderstorms. Though I’m sure I looked ridiculous, I know that there isn’t a single person at AP who wouldn’t preach about girl’s health rights, huddled under a green Starbucks umbrella knowing that your laptop will surely suffer water damage. Because that’s who we are at AP– we put others in front of us, and we put the agenda of human rights at the forefront. As for fun facts about me? I am most known for eating all of Allegra’s muffins (who knew vegan muffins would be so delicious?), never using my advocacy.net email address, losing my “trousers” on our canoeing trip, and being incredibly passionate about women’s rights. “Reflecting back on my internship with AP, I think of the people. I had the pleasure of working with a dynamic team of interns who are all exceptionally bright, motivated, and passionate. I learned so much from each and every one of them, and they always gave me a good laugh. In addition, having the opportunity to support the efforts of AP’s inspirational peace fellows and having Iain and Karen guide us through the internship was an incredibly unique experience. At a small nonprofit like AP, it is truly the people that make the organization what it is. The staff, intern team, and peace fellows fill AP with so much passion, love, and dedication, and it is the reason why The Advocacy Project makes such a tangible difference in promoting human rights around the world.”

“I’m the kind of person where if there’s a food platter with 10 hors d’oeuvres, I’m going to sample all of them cause I like to try everything. Likewise, I’ve been sinking my teeth in a whole variety of tasks here at AP, from photo editing and archiving to website building, all the way over to writing HTML, and back to handling videos and podcasts. Although I’ve tasted most of the samples on the platter, I still have fundraising and maybe even social media to sample before I finish my work for the summer. It’s been tasty.“I have never worked a desk job in an office before, but working at AP has been an easy shift and great exposure to the inner workings of a non-profit and human rights issues. For the past couple years, I have known that I will dedicate my life to human rights, and I couldn’t be happier to start off my career here. The office is small, both in staff and space, which I have loved since it fosters teamwork and communication. That being said, our summer 2016 team has gotten very close, both in the office and during activities like canoeing, and we have lots of fun together. It’s been a great experience so far!”