In my application to the Advocacy Project Summer Internship I wrote that I’m passionate about human rights, democracy and advocacy. This might sound cliché but I really am passionate about these issues; the problem is to put these noble word and ideas into a daily practice.
So this summer I’m heading to Turin, Italy to see for myself whether these words can be translated into a true commitment on my part to the TAMPEP’s cause or whether these were just hollow ideas.

Will I be able to work in an under-resourced, poorly funded organization that has to make do with the limited resources and be happy and feel like I’m achieving something? The idealist in me says yes, and why shouldn’t I be optimistic about it? If there’s one thing I expect, it is that I will meet people there who are as committed to ideals I subscribe to and they do put them into their daily practice in spite of the difficulties they face. I know this will be a great learning experience and I’m open to the ups and downs that I probably will have to face.

Embarking on this exciting journey, I obviously have doubts about my ability to make a significant contribution: do I know enough, am I culturally sensitive enough, etc.? On the other, I believe that as along as I keep an open mind and get rid of stereotypical thinking, I can achieve and learn much.

So, yeah, I guess I’m still an idealist – let’s see at the end of summer how far this idealism takes me. World of human rights – here I come!