possible work related to international relations/politics

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02juddra
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possible work related to international relations/politics

Post by 02juddra »

I am a current grecian hoping to study international relations/politcs at university and was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to find work/work experience in this sector. Any time during the school holidays is fine but preferably over the summer.
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Re: possible work related to international relations/politics

Post by Mid A 15 »

02juddra wrote:I am a current grecian hoping to study international relations/politcs at university and was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to find work/work experience in this sector. Any time during the school holidays is fine but preferably over the summer.
Have you tried your MP?

If you are lucky you might be allowed to attend a constituency surgery, assist him/her in research or even get a trip to to the Houses of Parliament to see it from the inside as MPs see it. (as opposed to the public).

If you get no joy with your local MP Martin Linton, MP for Battersea, is an Old Blue.

Nothing ventured nothing gained!

http://www.martinlinton.org.uk/home
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Re: possible work related to international relations/politics

Post by Mid A 15 »

ps Same principle as above but you could always try one of your MEPs.

The real governing of this country is increasingly done from Brussels and it might also add an international dimension for the international relations part.

Good luck anyway. Hope you sort something out.
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Exiled_in_Rome
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Re: possible work related to international relations/politics

Post by Exiled_in_Rome »

Hello there

You asked about international relations/politics.

There are a few Old Blues dotted around the UN/inter-governmental system. I have been working at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) based in Rome for a fair few years now, and I have bumped into one or two OBs over the years and I am sure that there must be others.

Whilst we - like all UN organizations - have volunteer/intern schemes, these tend to be orientated towards people who have completed at least their first degree, rather than school leavers (which is unfortunate in your case).

I would, of course, be more than happy to answer any questions you might have / provide you with a few pointers etc. And it goes without saying that if you ever find yourself near Rome and are interested in learning more about FAO, or the UN in general, that I would be more than happy to meet up etc.

On a more general note, I ascribe my fascination with the developing world and my career in development to Friday afernoon double-geography with JDS (John Shippen) on my UF or GE. Over a period of two weeks, he showed us a series of on the Sahelian famine. He had a long thin metal slide projector through which he used to thread slides on a little reel. To this day, I remember sitting at my desk (next to Chris Petter I am sure), fascinated by what I was seeing, absolutely transfixed by the images before me. I like to think that my destiny was laid down at that moment. Indeed, I took my wife to see the classroom where it all happened on her first (and only...) visit to CH.. I owe an awful lot to JDS and those two Friday afternoons - I know, quite categorically, that I would not be doing a job that I continue to love so much, if it hadn't have been for his enthusiasm and passion. In a wonderful spot of irony, some 25+ years later, I now find myself working in a group that was originally established in response to...yep.. you guessed it.. the Sahelian famine in the v.late 1970s/early 1980s....

Only last week (we have just moved house) I came across Bill Avenell's copy of "Inside the Third World" in my bookcase... he lent it to me in 1982 or so - he used to teach Geography to Deps I seem to remember... it was the first book I ever had on development... it has a rather important historical value - I am not sure that I will ever give it back!

Best regards
Dick
PeB 1978-84 (a contemporary of "Chaz")
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CHAZ
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Re: possible work related to international relations/politics

Post by CHAZ »

Exiled_in_Rome wrote:Hello there


On a more general note, I ascribe my fascination with the developing world and my career in development to Friday afernoon double-geography with JDS (John Shippen) on my UF or GE. Over a period of two weeks, he showed us a series of on the Sahelian famine. He had a long thin metal slide projector through which he used to thread slides on a little reel. To this day, I remember sitting at my desk (next to Chris Petter I am sure), fascinated by what I was seeing, absolutely transfixed by the images before me. I like to think that my destiny was laid down at that moment. Indeed, I took my wife to see the classroom where it all happened on her first (and only...) visit to CH.. I owe an awful lot to JDS and those two Friday afternoons - I know, quite categorically, that I would not be doing a job that I continue to love so much, if it hadn't have been for his enthusiasm and passion. In a wonderful spot of irony, some 25+ years later, I now find myself working in a group that was originally established in response to...yep.. you guessed it.. the Sahelian famine in the v.late 1970s/early 1980s....

Only last week (we have just moved house) I came across Bill Avenell's copy of "Inside the Third World" in my bookcase... he lent it to me in 1982 or so - he used to teach Geography to Deps I seem to remember... it was the first book I ever had on development... it has a rather important historical value - I am not sure that I will ever give it back!

Best regards
Dick
PeB 1978-84 (a contemporary of "Chaz")

Hi Dick

I believe Bill Avenell has retired now so you'll be able to keep that prized possession!
See you for the 25th Himalayan Reunion I hope
Charles Forster
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02juddra
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Re: possible work related to international relations/politics

Post by 02juddra »

thanks exciled in rome, do you happen to know of any old blues working in the human rights area of the UN as that is what i am planning on moving in to
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Re: possible work related to international relations/politics

Post by Exiled_in_Rome »

Hello there.

The short answer is: no.

The slightly longer answer is: well, most parts of the UN are, in their own way, human rights based, albeit with varied lenses (e.g. peacekeeping / political affairs / poverty reduction / emergency food and water supply / education / labour rights etc.). The OHCHR (Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) is based in the UN Secretariat and, as the name suggest, has an exclusively human rights focus. I have come across them primarily in the context of integrated missions (i.e. peacekeeping - blue helmets - and peacebuilding - people like me, in places like DRC, Burundi, Sudan, Liberia, Timor Leste and Nepal i.e. the big peacekeeping operations). Now, I don't know any OBs working in OHCHR, but I might be able to put you in touch with someone there. I will be over in NY with a few OHCHR folk in mid-February.

As I mentioned before, it is probably a little early to contemplate direct work experience with a UN programme, fund or specialised agency. On the other hand, there would be absolutely no harm in making contact with people, asking for guidance and letting people know of your burgeoning interest. I did exactly the same: I saw an announcement in the Blue announcing that Robin Kinloch, OB, had been appointed UN Resident Coordinator (RC) in what was then Zaire (now DRC) when I was about 16. I dropped him a line saying that I was interested in the UN and he gave me lots of useful pointers/advice. He eventually became Head of Personnel at UNDP. He retired several years ago but is much respected within the international development comunity. I owe him a lot.

You might also want to contact people working in other segments of the international development/human rights community. Guy Rhodes (he left CH in about 1985/6) for example, has built a tremendous reputation, first in mine action and now, in Sri Lanka, helping to lead a very active consortium of development NGOs. Similarly, Ravi Wickremasinghe (LaA 1977-84) is now Director of Communications (or something similar) at Save the Children-UK. They do incredible work (as I am sure you know). Likewise, Guy Evans, another contemporary of mine, is working at the WTO (a bit less of a human rights perspective there tho', methinks...)

Anyway, I would be more than happy to put you in touch with these people and to answer any other questions you might have. I will send you a private message with my email address.

I always thought that I should pop down to Horsham one day and talk to some of the Grecians about careers in development/UN etc... but then again, I can remember how dull most lectures of the sort were... What do you think? Would there be any interest on the part of the Grecians / the school?

Oh dear, that was rather a long answer wasn't it...

Cheerio from a very rainy Rome.

Dick
PeB 1978-84
02juddra
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Re: possible work related to international relations/politics

Post by 02juddra »

in terms of a lecture for grecians or the whole school, i personally feel that it would be useful as there are a fair few individuals in the school with an interest in the UN, as shown by our currently very active debating 'team' and the popular politics minority course. Personally a whole school invited lecture would be better as it allows younger pupils with an interest to attend rather that just speaking to grecians who some may not be all that interested. Again many thanks for your advice. If you are interested then the person to speak to would be Dr Wines who is the politics man at CH currently. I would be more than willing to get him in contact with you.
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Re: possible work related to international relations/politics

Post by cstegerlewis »

Way :offtopic: but...
CHAZ wrote:See you for the 25th Himalayan Reunion I hope
Are you referring to the trip that I think involved Yvan (? can't remember, was it Miller?) led by Andrew Gunning and Clive Kemp? I remember a slide show in the theatre when you returned about the trip, if it was the same one.
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Re: possible work related to international relations/politics

Post by CHAZ »

Yes Craig this is the trip and was at the time considered to be the most ambitious mountaineering trip ever done by a school party. Of ocurse very different to the successes of the great Rob Gauntlett and James Hooper but in 1984 all the same a great experience.

Yvan Cohen was the name.
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Re: possible work related to international relations/politics

Post by blondie95 »

you could also try international aid charities. They often want volunteers and although are mainly non political it would get you into the midst of the areas the politicians are talking about
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Re: possible work related to international relations/politics

Post by Hannoir »

Am interested in similar things as well - lobbying etc, governmental orgs - have degree, masters and sabbatical year at SU so not really sure where to start....
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