Northern Ireland Program Internships
Students will select internship settings from a range of organizations in Northern Ireland. Many of these organizations have local context, while others will integrate the local with the global focus. Following are preliminary internship opportunities identified for this program.
Public Achievement Northern Ireland
http://www.publicachievement.org/
A citizenship education initiative based in nine sites throughout Northern Ireland within the informal sector. Young people with the support of a coach, develop and conduct a citizenship action project, which benefits the local/global community. It is anticipated that the HECUA students could have the opportunity of working on the ground with the young people and supporting the action project process.
Co-ordinator: (Paul Smyth)
UNESCO Centre, University of Ulster
http://www.ulst.ac.uk/unesco
The University has recently agreed on a formal partnership with UNESCO (United Nations Education, Cultural and Scientific Organization.) Over the next five years the School of Education at the University of Ulster will undertake a wide-ranging program of research, development and training to promote education for pluralism, human rights and democracy on a local, national and international level. It is expected that the intern will assist and support the numerous national and international programs that work toward pluralism, human rights and democracy.
Director: Professor Alan Smith
Social, Civic and Political Education Program
SCPE is a pilot citizenship education project that is developing a citizenship curriculum based on an understanding of human rights, dversity/interdependence, justice/interdependence and democracy/active participation. It is expected that the SCPE curriculum will be a statutory component within Northern Ireland by 2002. It is envisaged that the intern will support the work of a citizenship action project with the SCPE team and pilot schools.
Director: Michael Arlow
Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/
Amnesty International Northern Ireland promotes awareness of the values contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other internationally-agreed standards of human rights. The organization encourages people to accept that all human rights must be protected. Based in the heart of Belfast, the intern will be expect to aid Amnesty International on a number of local and global issues within the education sector.
Director: Patrick Corrigan
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
http://www.nihrc.org/
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a statutory body established by the Northern Ireland Act 1998, in compliance with the Good Friday Agreement. The NIHRC aims to ensure that the human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland are fully and firmly protected in law, practice and policy. It is expected that the intern will spend his/her time supporting young people and human rights in Northern Ireland to move forward on the implementation of the Bill of Rights.
Director: Brice Dickson
Civic Link – Co-operation Ireland
http://www.civic-link.org
Civic-Link builds positive relationships between young people North (Northern Ireland) and South (Republic of Ireland) and enables them to promote active change within their own communities. It fosters practical co-operation and responsible citizenship. Civic-Link is an action-learning project with an interactive exchange component.
Director: Marianne McGill
Spirit of Enniskillen
http://www.soetrust.co.uk/
The Spirit of Enniskillen programme encourages young people to broaden their horizons by travelling to other countries - also experiencing community divisions - where they gain first hand experience of how people from different backgrounds are learning to live together. On return, participants are expected to reflect on their experiences and are invited to become part of a ‘critical yeast’ promoting the principles of equity and interdependence between all communities. If they so wish they may also join and get further support from the Future Voices project formed and run by past-participants of the scheme. It is expected that the intern will support and facilitate training necessary for the exchange and debriefing.
Director: Chuck Richardson
Northern Ireland Assembly
http://www.ni-assembly.gov.uk
The New Northern Ireland Assembly was established as part of the Belfast Agreement reached at the multi-party negotiations on Friday 10 April, now commonly referred to as the 'Good Friday Agreement'. Under the Agreement, the Assembly has full legislative and executive authority in respect of those matters previously within the remit of 6 Northern Ireland government departments: Department of Agriculture, Economic Development, Education, Environment, Finance & Personnel, and Health & Social Services. At least one intern will have the opportunity to work within the office of a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
