Last Thursday, I got a call from Olivia, one of the internship coordinators at HRI. They offered me a placement through them to a host organization, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in Thailand, in Bangkok.
I had until this past Monday to think about it and inform them of my decision.
Needless to say, I accepted after some deliberation, consulting with close friends, and receiving totally positive encouragement from friends all around.
So details, details. I’ll be off to Bangkok about late August for a six month placement, after a training session at the end of July. This internship program is part of the Netcorps program, sponsored by Industry Canada and eight coalition NGO‘s, of which HRI is one. The major thrust of this initiative is to contribute Canadian talent towards ICT development in the developing world. The concept of fair and sustainable knowledge sharing will be a major facet of the legacy I am to leave behind.
I will be working on human rights content from an IT approach. My tasks will include developing and administering a new web site for CCJP, developing a CD-ROM for human rights education for the classroom, an English newsletter, among other things. CCJP is actively involved in issues such as human rights education, the movement on banning landmines, non-violent conflict resolution, among other things.
The last couple of days have been a flurry of Thailand-related web research, video watching, and reading.
I’m really excited about this opportunity. I know there will be lots of fun ahead, as well as unexpected challenges. Aside from the knowledge that this placement will advance my career and make a positive difference, the fact that I’ll be there in the cool season, traipsing to Chang Mai or Phuket, and the just the thought of eating the food there has me signing God’s praises.
You, too, should check out this amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Go, and seek to make a difference – it just might be an amazing and fun experience.
wow dan…sounds like it will be a really great experience. we’ll be missing your presence here but no doubt you’ll be blessing many more in thailand. congrats !
“Go, and seek to make a difference…” Funny, when my eyes read that statement, I was just listening to Jaci Velasquez sing, “You can make a difference, you can make a change…”
mmm… thai food…..
I’m so happy for you, Dan! I was just wondering this week where in the world you were and you answered my question before I could email you to find out!
Imagine that…getting to combine a bunch of stuff that you’re good and passionate at…all at once and all into one! Keep sending the updates!