My time at ATD Ireland was short but impactful. I was curious about working with an NGO, something I didn’t have experience in. I thought that it would inform me what I wanted to do next. I have always cared about human rights issues, and I thought that this would be a great opportunity to engage with them.
It started with an interview that turned into a two-hour chat with board members, ATD employees, and community activists. It was such a lovely environment full of warm, thoughtful people. I didn’t want to leave.
Once the internship started, I was writing articles based on our events or people I interviewed. I also did various projects like creating maps of where ATD’s members live so we could stop by with Christmas cards.
My favorite part was the people we worked with. Whether that was the staff, community activists, members, or otherwise, everyone was so kind and cared deeply about the cause. It was a great environment and I felt comfortable sharing my ideas. I loved everyone I met and had a great time getting to know them.
I think the work ATD is doing is critical. The fact that they always center the voices of those with experience of poverty is so important. Especially with modules at universities, you could tell how impactful for the students the voices of the community activists were.
This has been a positive experience for me. It has changed my outlook on life. I want to continue working for change. I think it has made me a better person, and I am grateful for it.
Thanks very much to Hanna for all her hard work.
If you are interested in starting an internship or volunteering with ATD Ireland, contact Dann@atdireland.ie
