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Poder Ciudadano – Wellesley in Latin America (Buenos Aires, Argentina) December 22, 2008

Posted by cwslibrary in Argentina, Juniors, Latin America, Summer 2009, Wellesley Internships in Latin America, advocacy, community service, government, nonprofit, political science, research, sophomores, writing.
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Poder Ciudadano is a non-profit, non partisan organization. It was founded in 1989 as an initiative by a small group of citizens concerned about civic and social rights in Argentina.

The organization’s goal is to promote citizen’s participation in the governmental process, transparency and the availability of information and public access to information created by government entities. Poder Ciudadano’s belief is that transparent, public information strengthens democracy and local institutions.

Poder Ciudadano’s projects for 2009 will include Congressional elections, including report and analysis of campaign finance, candidate’s profiles and campaign issues. Poder Ciudadano will also work on two projects titled “Mapa del Régimen Político Democrático en las Provincias” and “Municipios Transparentes.”

Internship Description:

The intern will work as part of the Political Institutions and Government section of the organization. She will either author or assist in writing reports on political issues at the national level (campaign finance, political reform, among other subjects). She will also assist in projects and other publications as needed. Duties will also include research and analysis on topics related to municipal, provincial and national level politics.

Ideal Internship Qualification:

Logistical:

 

Current Sophomores or Juniors

Interest in Political science, law, education, sociology, anthropology or other areas in the social sciences.

Knowledge of Spanish

Personality:

Motivated, self-starter

Responsible

Willing to work as a team in a small office

Must bring her own laptop

 

 

 

United Nations Development Program – Wellesley in Latin America (Costa Rica) December 5, 2008

Posted by cwslibrary in Costa Rica, Juniors, Latin America, NGO, Summer 2009, Wellesley Internships in Latin America, advocacy, community service, development, nonprofit, sophomores.
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Information about the organization:

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. There are UNDP offices in 166 countries, working on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

World leaders have pledged to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, including the overarching goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015. UNDP’s network links and coordinates global and national efforts to reach these Goals. Our focus is helping countries build and share solutions to the challenges of:

*       Democratic Governance

*       Poverty Reduction

*       Crisis Prevention and Recovery

*       Environment and Energy

*       HIV/AIDS

UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women.

The annual Human Development Report, commissioned by UNDP, focuses the global debate on key development issues, providing new measurement tools, innovative analysis and often controversial policy proposals. The global Report’s analytical framework and inclusive approach carry over into regional, national and local Human Development Reports, also supported by UNDP.

In each country office, the UNDP Resident Representative normally also serves as the Resident Coordinator of development activities for the United Nations system as a whole. Through such coordination, UNDP seeks to ensure the most effective use of UN and international aid resources.

Internship Description:

 

Based on experience and qualifications, the intern will be assigned to work in one of our core areas:

*       Democratic Governance

*       Poverty Reduction

*       Crisis Prevention and Recovery

*       Environment and Energy

*       HIV/AIDS

Student will research information for the team as needed, and will create her own research project for the team to present at the end of the internship.

 

Ideal Internship Qualification:

Logistical:

Current Sophomores and Juniors

Good writer

Working knowledge of Spanish.

Personality:

Flexible

Motivated

Open minded

Detail oriented

Organized

Self starter

 

 

Directorio Legislativo – Wellesley in Latin America (Buenos Aires, Argentina) December 5, 2008

Posted by cwslibrary in Argentina, Juniors, Latin America, Summer 2009, Wellesley Internships in Latin America, government, language skillls, media, political science, public policy, social responsibility, sophomores, writing.
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Project Description:

 

Directorio Legislativo was created as an independent project in 1999 and currently functions as a Foundation.  The organization works to strengthen the institutional role of the Congress, legislature, and Parliament.  The Foundation’s mission is to ensure that the legislative powers in Argentina reflect society’s needs.  For this reason, they concentrate their efforts in promoting initiatives that defend public interest.

 

Directorio Legislativo believes that during the last few years many members of congress have undertaken many creative programs searching for better social and political outcomes for Argentina. The Foundation hopes to encourage more of these experiences through their work.

Among Directorio Legislativo’s unique projects is the “Premio a la Innovación Legislativa” (Legislative Innovation Award).  It is awarded every year to a member of the Argentinian congress to support innovative practices that resolve social, institutional, cultural, or economic problems in the country.  The recommendations of the legislator must be put into practice during their term in office.

 

 

Internship responsibilities:

 

The intern will work in one of the following projects:

 

1)       “Who are our legislators and how do they represent us?” This publication hopes to inform constituents about their representatives in government.  

2)      “Debates”. Organization (administrative and academic) that supports debate programs (both small and large scale) about politics in Argentina and about Congress in general.

3)      “Reports”. The monthly reports include several topics related to Congress and the Legislative branch. (See webpage www.directoriolegislativo.org) These reports are sent to all contacts on a monthly basis.

4)      “Meetings”. The intern will meet with members of congress to discuss topics related to issues of general public interest.

5)      “Communication”

. Create and implement communication strategies for the Foundation (both in English and Spanish).

 

 

INTERNSHIP SCHEDULE

Stage 1: The intern will spend some time to meet and know all of the program directors to the areas mentioned above, and their tasks.

Stage 2: The intern is assigned one or two of those programs and an agreement will be signed in relation to her interest and her expertise – a “job description”. This way, both sides count on the same information in terms of the objectives of the internship.  Since Directorio Legislativo is a small and hands on organization, this description will have a small percentage of administrative tasks that will also have to be performed as part of the internship.

 

Stage 3: the intern will complete her tasks with the help of the area directors and program coordinators and in close cooperation and contact with any other interns in the office.

 

FINAL PRODUCT DESIRED

 

“Who are our legislators and how do they represent us?”: update our webpage information, crosscheck facts and data for our publications, contact members of congress through letters, calls or visits.

 

“Debates”. Assist or direct in the creation of at least one debate.

 

“Reports”. Create a report and its distribution.

 

“Meetings”. Organize three meetings with members of congress.

 

“Communication”. Create a written plan on communication strategies.

 

EVALUATION

The intern will be successful based on the common objectives agreed upon during the first days of the intenrship.

 

 

SUGGESTIONS OF MATERIALS FOR INTERNSHIP PREPARATION

It is important that the intern read three short publications prior to beginning the internship. They are available at www.directoriolegislativo.org/publicaciones.php  and are as follows:

1) El Poder Legislativo;

2) Formación y Sanción de Leyes, y

3) Acceso a la Información en el Poder Legislativo

 

 

 

Internship requirements:

Language: Good knowledge of  spoken Spanish—most legislators do not speak English. Intern should also bring her own computer for research.

 

Ideal Internship Qualification:

Logistical:

Good knowledge of Spoken Spanish

Sophomore or Juniors

Knowledge of Latin American politics recommended.

Interest in government.

Personality:

Capable of working in a changing and unorganized environment (as is the political environment)

Able to meet her own deadline to reach objectives.

Knows how to prioritize

Team player- prefers to work as a team

Proactive; charismatic

Able to effectively communicate with high-level members of government.