Santos
Jenkin (Santos) Yuen, Ontario
Jenkin’s Achievements:
- Raised $919.66 CAD
- Met with MP Chrystia Freeland’s Constituency Manager
- Gave five presentations and hosted two Borgen Project events at his university
- Mobilized constituency effectively and efficiently
- Completed all other requirements of the Political Affairs program
Question #1: Since you have been with The Borgen Project, what is one thing that has surprised you so far about global poverty issues or advocacy?
One thing that has surprised me is how Canada’s allocation of Official Development Assistance (ODA), especially towards combating global poverty in less developed countries, has decreased over the past years. It is both surprising and concerning to see that efforts to address or even alleviate global poverty from a global power like Canada have been diminishing. This is especially alarming because addressing global poverty (an issue that’s more prevalent or disproportionately poorer countries) requires strong commitments and help from more developed or influential nations. This shift seems to reflect a growing trend among major countries or global powers to prioritize internal or domestic concerns over global issues. This is when the work of the Borgen Project comes in and becomes important, especially in maintaining a certain degree of commitment from nations like the US, UK and Canada to combating global poverty — advocacy. Advocacy is what brings these issues back to the forefront of public and political attention, which is also why I found the Borgen Project and its cause meaningful in the first place.
Question #2: What motivated you to go the extra mile in your work?
The main reason I would go the extra mile in my work was really a deep desire to ensure my work leads to practical and tangible outcomes. Instead of meeting just the minimum requirements, sometimes I want to make sure I go a little further to reach a meaningful impact — at least “meaningful” to a certain degree. For example, I took extra steps by presenting to more community groups, mobilizing more peers and people around me to email or write letters to Canadian politicians about global poverty, and engaging with university classes to raise awareness about The Borgen Project, its cause, and volunteering opportunities for those who were interested in knowing more or even contributing to the work of the Project. These efforts were not just about completing weekly tasks that I was given, but about ensuring that more people became aware of the issue of global poverty, actually cared about it, and felt motivated to do something about it.
Question #3: Any tips or words of advice for other team members to help them along a similar path to success?
This is not really very practical advice, but I would say interns should really cherish the valuable opportunity of conducting lobbying meetings with your constituency’s MP. It is an incredible chance to engage with someone in a high political position, present your case and show that you have done your preparation for it thoroughly, and more importantly, learn from their perspective as policymakers. To make the most out of this experience, I would advise understanding the issue deeply, anticipating questions, and approaching the conversation as an opportunity (rather than a task) to share knowledge and gain insights into the current political climate. This interaction or conversation with the MP was one of the best things that happened to me in this internship, and certainly one of the things that really made me able to show what I was capable of as well as understand more about the issue itself coming from the perspective of the MP.
Question #4: What have you been up to after completing your internship role with The Borgen Project?
Since completing my internship, I have been involved in several endeavours. Firstly, as a final-year sociological student now at the University of Toronto (I was a third-year student during the internship), I have just finished an independent sociological research project about the unspoken social behaviours and dynamics in public washrooms, which I am aiming to publish in an undergraduate or sociological journal. Secondly, I have also applied to law schools in Hong Kong, where I hope to leverage skills that I honed during this internship with The Borgen Project as well, such as public speaking and effective communication. Thirdly, I also recently started an internship at another non-profit organization — this one focuses on mental health awareness. Building on what I learnt and did at/for the Borgen Project, I hope to contribute to this important issue of mental health too. By the end of this internship, I will hopefully craft a research article about mental health and get it published too. These things that I have been working on after my internship with the Borgen Project have allowed me to extend my commitment to social advocacy in new and meaningful ways.
Katherine
Katherine Soper, Manitoba
Katherine’s Achievements:
- Raised $1,976.96 CAD
- Met with MP Ben Carr
- Gave five presentations and hosted a community fundraising event for The Borgen Project with 200 attendees
- Mobilized constituency effectively and efficiently
- Completed all other requirements of the Political Affairs program
Question #1: Since you have been with The Borgen Project, what is one thing that has surprised you so far about global poverty issues or advocacy?
The biggest surprise for me occurred during the first week of orientation, where I learned the background of the Borgen Project’s work and the scope of need in the world. I was shocked to learn the fact that over a billion people in the world are living in extreme poverty; and how few people are aware of this issue. The first step to change at a policy level is public awareness, so the more people who we can get thinking about this disturbing statistic, the better. I would highly recommend completing the orientation reading in full as it’s essential to be fully educated on the subject for your advocacy work!
Question #2: What motivated you to go the extra mile in your work?
My internship at the Borgen Project is the first job I’ve ever had where my role had real world, meaningful implications. Not only does an internship give valuable experience, but you are doing important work for the greater good. It feels easy to go the extra mile when you know that your work extends far beyond your personal gains.
Question #3: Any tips or words of advice for other team members to help them along a similar path to success?
My suggestion to other interns would be to choose goals that felt like the most achievable and enjoyable. For fundraising, for example, if you have experience selling a product or are part of a group at your university, use those connections and skills to create a fundraising project. In my case, I threw a social and was able to raise a lot of money while having tons of fun on Halloween. I got to hang out with my friends while making decorations, planning the event, and building a 200-person guest list. While I spent a lot of time on this project, it felt more like leisure time because it was something I enjoyed!
Question #4: What have you been up to after completing your internship role with The Borgen Project?
This term I am finishing up my Bachelor’s in Political Science and studying for the LSAT while travelling in Germany with some friends from Hamburg!
Antonella
Antonella Pecora Ruiz, Ontario
Antonella’s Achievements:
- Raised $1,055.78 CAD
- Met with MP Karina Gould and had multiple interactions with MP Gould’s staff
- Gave four presentations, including one to the Karina Gould Youth Council, and hosted a summer camp that was partially Borgen Project-themed
- Had an article published in the Burlington Local News
- Mobilized constituency effectively and efficiently
- Completed all other requirements of the Political Affairs program
Question #1: Since you have been with The Borgen Project, what is one thing that has surprised you so far about global poverty issues or advocacy?
One surprising aspect of my work with The Borgen Project has been learning about the major impact of vocalizing critical global issues. Activities such as calling your Member of Parliament or writing for your local newspaper can spark interest in others, potentially leading them to make a difference as well– simply, you can create a causal effect of positive change!
Additionally, I’ve learned that while poverty may not be immediately visible, it exists everywhere. Through my own research and my experience with The Borgen Project, I have become more aware of the poverty present on the streets of my city, Toronto. This summer I plan to volunteer at a foodbank or homeless shelter as The Borgen Project has taught me that every action counts in the fight against poverty.
Question #2: What motivated you to go the extra mile in your work?
What inspired me to go the extra mile in my work was the belief that teaching others can lead to meaningful change. During my time with The Borgen Project, my focus was on advocacy through education. I aimed to spread awareness about extreme poverty, whether by speaking at my local Rotary Club, which includes individuals familiar with the world’s hardships, or by addressing elementary school children who still struggled to grasp the very concept of extreme poverty.
I embodied one of the key elements of The Borgen Project: engaging citizens and encouraging them to advocate for policies that can significantly impact the lives of people living in poverty. Still, to involve my community in the process of advocating for an increase in funding for international aid, supporting global health initiatives, and promoting education and economic opportunities in developing countries– it was important that they knew its outcomes and importance, which made education the key to my campaign.
Fortunately, this led to donations and the spread of awareness around my community; but most importantly, to the forming of a group of dedicated advocates in the fight against global poverty.
Question #3: Any tips or words of advice for other team members to help them along a similar path to success?
Don’t hesitate to reach out to others and turn your fundraising ideas into reality. Advocacy may seem like it’s best suited for extroverts or those with extensive networks, but many people are eager to help in this cause, as ending global poverty is an issue that resonates with many.
Still, I would say that to achieve a successful fundraising campaign, it is essential to be committed to your goals; with dedication, you can accomplish anything!
Question #4: What have you been up to after completing your internship role with The Borgen Project?
After my internship with The Borgen Project, I decided to pursue a Global Scholar Certificate in addition to my degree in Political Science and Art History at the University of Toronto. This will allow me to expand my education in International Relations, which is highly relevant for understanding the institutions and mechanisms involved in advocating for global issues.
Furthermore, I am actively promoting the message of The Borgen Project within my school. I have taken on the planning of events in collaboration with other organizations through a club called Trinity Women in Politics and Law, which empowers women interested in these fields by introducing them to opportunities that will further their future careers– such as working with The Borgen Project.
Currently, I am also interning at artoronto.ca, an art criticism website based in my hometown. In this role, I focus on highlighting global and political issues in art, as I aim to help educate others by bringing a spotlight to their significance through my writing.
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