My name is Anja Helliot, and I am a fourth-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and African studies. At the intersection of international relations, human rights and development, my undergraduate studies solidified my commitment to social justice and the fight for access to equal opportunities.
In the past years, I have been extensively involved in both academic and extra-curricular activities, projects and organisations that supported the marginalized communities’ rights and their advancement. I have been exposed to the dehumanizing processes of immigration and asylum claims having volunteered in a community-based NGO working with asylum seekers and refugees in France. This experience has fueled a deep frustration in me and undoubtedly pushed me to think at a higher level, impacting policies.
This summer, thanks to the Arts Internship Office, I had the incredible opportunity to gain my first work experience within the UN system as an intern for the UNHCR Canada, a branch of the biggest world agency for refugees. For 70 years, the UNHCR has been dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people such as refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless persons. With the number of displaced people on the planet constantly increasing, now accounting for 1% of the global population, I was able to witness how crucial and relevant the UNHCR mandate remains.
From June to August 2021, I was warmly welcomed by the Protection unit of the organization which, among others, liaise with government and develop partnerships with other stakeholders to promote and make recommendations regarding access to territory and refugee determination system. Despite the fact that my colleagues were located all over UNHCR offices in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, weekly meetings really allowed me to connect, feel supported and included. I also had the incredible chance to pursue a part of my internship in-person at UNHCR Canada’s office in Montreal, located just a 15-minute walk away from where I lived. Practising social-distancing and wearing masks, my supervisor and I were able to work together a few times over the summer.
I was given a great deal of responsibilities which really pushed me to do the best in return. One of my daily tasks included writing a press review of all Canadian newspaper articles covering topics relevant to UNHCR such as immigration debates, asylum law and the Afghan refugee crisis. The rest was a various deal of tasks ranging from updating information on the UNHCR’s website regarding the pandemic and the restrictions of entry relevant to asylum-seekers, translation between French and English, compiling statistics on the American Canadian border, as well as research on specific topics like indigenous populations’ displacements over the world and the work being done by the UNHCR on the subject. Research projects were often conducted by interns which facilitated the exchange of our common interests for social justice.
My supervisor, Denise Otis, also gave me the rare chance to pursue on my own a project on climate change-induced displacements. I was given the opportunity to write an article on the subject, tackling the legal loophole and the current debate regarding ‘climate refugees.’ I was also tasked with creating two informative presentations for my colleagues to use with partners and journalists. Given that environmentally displaced persons could represent 250 million by 2050, I am grateful I had the chance to know more about UNHCR’s ongoing operations on the subject.
Overall, as I head towards a Master’s in Development, this amazing internship and first UN experience definitely cemented my aspirations to continue working for an international organization dedicated to make a difference for marginalised communities. I would like to sincerely thank my amazing co-workers, especially my immediate supervisor Denise Otis, for making my experience so memorable.
