My name is Malak Afifi, and I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics at 平特五不中. Within both my majors, my focus has been in international relations, economic development, and international political economy. I am currently the Vice President and Director of Junior Peacemakers, a non-profit organization created by 平特五不中 students that aims to teach 4th-7th grade students across Montreal about global citizenship and sustainability. Over the last three years, I have actively participated in student life at 平特五不中 whether it was at our Model UN conferences (SSUNS and McMUN), or as the co-president of 平特五不中 Students for Amnesty and the 平特五不中 Collective for Gender Equality. I am passionate about creating positive change within my community, and both 平特五不中 and this internship have allowed me to do so.
I wanted to do this internship because I was drawn to Educonnexion's mission and values, but I also wanted to explore non-profit work. Since I am entering my final year of undergraduate studies, I felt as though this internship could provide me with some clarity about potential career paths to pursue. There are a lot of potential avenues I can take post-graduation, and going into this internship, my main learning objectives included furthering my understanding of NGO work (projects, day-to-day operations, etc.) and gathering experience in the social service world.
Educonnexion is a Montreal-based non-profit that aims to equip individuals and organizations with the tools and resources necessary to take action in an inclusive and sustainable manner. The organization offers workshops and other activities that delve into different topics ranging from sovereign debt and overconsumption to food security and fair trade.
As an intern, I was in charge of developing the communications strategy, creating visuals for social media, and creating condensed guides for the workshops offered. I largely worked on Canva to create all of the designs necessary, and I had weekly check-in meetings with my manager. There were also team meetings where I would present the work I had done. I also had ad hoc tasks assigned to me, such as creating a few proposals for the organization's banner and creating a certificate of completion template.
One of the highlights was being able to work closely with everyone on the team and to explore different facets internally because of how small the organization is. Another highlight was being able to work with and have my work recognized by the CEO, which may not have been possible in a larger company. It was also very rewarding to see the communications strategy come together and to be able to complete multiple projects over the span of twelve weeks.
Despite all the highlights, there was one key challenge. Namely, deadlines are typically for "as soon as possible" because work hours are not specifically set from 9 to 5. This required prioritizing my assignments and balancing the tasks assigned to me. However, my team was very understanding, and by communicating my needs whenever I felt like there was too much for me to do within the week, I was able to overcome this challenge.
I am not receiving academic credit for the internship, but I did gain invaluable experience, nonetheless. The internship has enriched my university experience and has given me a lot more clarity on my path for post-graduation. I was very excited to work for a non-profit organization over the summer, and I am very appreciative of the amazing team I worked with.
Lastly, this internship would not have been possible with Ms. Wendy Patton Keys' generous donation. The funds from my award allowed me to worry less about my expenses and to be able to create a work-life balance for myself this summer. I am grateful for the donation, and for the opportunity to intern for a great organization.
