Student Internship Spotlight: Maryam Ahmed

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Maryam Ahmed is a second year Master of Human Rights student concentrating on International Security and Counter Terrorism. Funded by a Fellowship through the Human Rights Program, she spent her summer in Nairobi, Kenya working with the international development organization African Development Solutions (ADESO). During her internship, she focused mainly on the links between international development and human rights.

Human Rights Program (HRP): Tell us about where you interned this summer and what you worked on while you are there.

Maryam Ahmed (MA): This summer I had the privilege of working at African Development Solutions (ADESO). It is a development organization that was founded in 1991 by Ms. Fatima Jibrell after the civil war in Somalia. It’s initial objective was advocating for environmental conservation in Somalia. It later changed its geographical reach to include Kenya and South Sudan. Its mission later changed to include humanitarian aid and development. My area of focus was researching the connection between development, human rights, and security and writing a subsequent report.

HRP: What were a few major takeaways or lessons that you learned this summer through your internship?

MA: My experience at African Development Solutions was an eye-opening one. As a human rights student, It was a little hard to see how development had anything to do with human rights, and more specifically with my area of concentration of international security and counter-terrorism. In the extensive research I conducted about the link between human rights, development and security at Adeso, I came to view development very differently and see it as a critical component to promoting and protecting human rights. My research brought me to the mindset that to have a state that is human rights “conscious,” it needs to be successfully developed. That can only take place when human security in the state is improved and taken as a priority. If I could offer advice to future interns based on my experience at Adeso, I would suggest: keep doing your research because you will always learn something new during your internship; keep asking questions and focus on areas that you need to grow and improve on; be open to trying new things when selecting an internship and keep an open mind during your internship.

HRP: How was the internship related to your course of study, and how do you think it will help you in your career?

MA: This internship allowed me to physically immerse myself in the day to day activities of a non-profit development organization and understand how each department worked to create a well-oiled machine impacting the lives of countless individuals and communities in Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan. I learned that development is not just about economic growth. Instead, it is about creating ways in which the lives of communities are continuously improved and that in turn promotes and protects the rights of the community to ensure that they live a life without fear and hardships. Being able to understand that motivated me to expand my thinking and attitude towards human rights that will impact my future coursework. I now appreciate that human rights in a developing state may take years to come into full effect. However the more we come together to alleviate poverty and give the necessary support to communities affected by conflict, the more we can bring clear policies to states which in turn will hold them responsible for their actions. This new knowledge may help me in future human rights or development positions.

*Responses were edited for length and clarity

A photo of a young woman wearing a floral print top, black glasses, and a white hijab from the shoulders up

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