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Internship Program
Interns take part in exclusive and specialized tracks, where they develop and lead a particular project supported by IYCGE
What is an Intern?
Interns are among IYCGE’s most selective and hands-on roles, with only a limited number of positions available during each intake cycle. The internship program is designed for individuals seeking to move beyond discussion and directly contribute to meaningful international projects, initiatives, and organizational development.
Interns work within specialized tracks and are assigned to a particular project area aligned with their interests, strengths, and professional goals. Through collaborative project-building, strategic planning, research, advocacy, outreach, and implementation, interns gain practical experience while contributing tangible outcomes to the organization’s broader mission. Each intern works closely with supervisors, coordinators, and fellow interns to develop initiatives that create measurable impact within both local and global contexts.
The internship program emphasizes leadership development, interdisciplinary collaboration, critical thinking, and innovation. Interns are encouraged to take initiative, contribute original ideas, and actively shape the projects they work on, making the experience both academically enriching and professionally valuable.
Current internship tracks offered by IYCGE may include areas such as:
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Advocacy Campaign Strategy
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Comparative Legal Analysis
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Policy Reform
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Research Brief
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Institutional Gender Audit
Each track allows interns to specialize in a focused area while contributing to collaborative international initiatives that advance the mission and values of the International Youth Council on Gender Equality.
Red Seal Interns
Red Seal Interns are 10 individuals selected from the Gender Equality in Policy & Practice Program, with two chosen from each of the five distinct tracks, who work to further expand upon their projects and advance IYCGE’s mission within their respective fields.
Ángela López Rivas
Intern, Research Brief
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Omara Downer
Intern, Comparative Legal Analysis
Laura Marino
Intern, Institutional Gender Audit
Ngo Ky Thu (Kate) Le
Intern, Advocacy Strategy
Mhea Bardouille
Intern, Institutional Gender Audit
Inês Gaurim Sousa
Intern, Research Brief
Mahnoor Waseem
Intern, Comparative Legal Analysis
Kennedy E. Ferguson
Intern, Advocacy Strategy
Mia Lee
Intern, Policy Reform
Orielle Henriquez
Intern, Policy Reform
Ángela López Rivas is a Spanish programme and project coordination professional specialising in gender equality and European governance. She holds a Master of Arts in European Political and Governance Studies from the College of Europe, where she focused on migration, gender studies, and Europe-Mediterranean relations. Her award-winning thesis on EU legislation addressing violence against women received the City of Strasbourg Prize for best thesis on European integration. She also wrote her Bachelor’s thesis on the impact of gender quotas on women’s representation on the boards of major publicly traded companies in Spain. Ángela currently works at the European Parliament, where she coordinates training programmes on EU legislation for staff, as well as workshops and internal team events that support learning and collaboration across services. Her previous experience includes roles with the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Spanish Embassy in Vienna, and the United Nations 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, focusing on programme coordination, policy analysis, and gender equality initiatives.
Inês Gaurim Sousa is a human rights researcher specialised in global development, decolonial theory and security. She currently works with the Omega Research Foundation, where she conducts international research on the impact of global manufacturing and trade of SALWs on human rights, directly informing advocacy strategies and policy recommendations for international stakeholders. She holds an MSc in Development and Security through the University of Bristol, and a BA in Political Science and International Relations via the Catholic University of Portugal. Aspiring to work in academia, Inês has published an academic article focused on the political effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the crisis governance of the Visegrád Group countries. Her MSc dissertation also looked into the pandemic’s institutional consequences for sub-saharan African nations, by analysing, through a decolonial lens, how the EU crisis governance may have reinforced colonial patterns of power.
Omara Downer is an aspiring lawyer, youth advocate, and emerging global leader committed to equity, education, and justice. She is the Co-Founder and Program Coordinator of The Little Christene’s Foundation, an NGO supporting single mothers and families facing financial hardship by helping fund tuition, uniforms, and school supplies. Omara has been recognized for her leadership, writing, and civic engagement, including receiving distinctions from the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers and being selected as a Forum for Young Canadians National Summit delegate. She serves in several youth leadership and policy roles, including the Global Youth Advisory Council, Indigenous Northern Policy Advisory Council, Centre for Global Education Advisory Council, and Young Politicians of Canada Legislative Roundtable. Through her advocacy, legal analysis, public speaking, and community service, Omara continues to use her voice to support marginalized youth and expand access to justice and education
She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, following the completion of a BSc (Hons) in Psychology. Her academic interests include human rights, comparative criminal justice systems, sentencing policy, and the intersection between psychology and law. Her Master’s dissertation focuses on whether Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) should be considered as a mitigating factor in sentencing, with particular emphasis on fairness, rehabilitation, and justice within the legal system. Through her studies, she has developed strong research, analytical, and critical writing skills. She also has volunteer experience within a probation office, supporting mental health and wellbeing initiatives under professional supervision, which has strengthened her communication, empathy, and interpersonal skills. Outside academia, she enjoys reading, travelling, and exploring social and cultural perspectives on crime and justice. She is eager to apply her interdisciplinary background and research skills within a professional legal environment.
Mhea Bardouille is an emerging professional with a strong interest in organizational development, gender equity, and youth-led advocacy. Currently serving as an intern within the Institutional Gender Audit track at the International Youth Council on Gender Equality, she contributes to initiatives focused on assessing institutional practices and promoting inclusive, equitable systems. Mhea is passionate about leadership, strategic planning, and creating meaningful impact through collaborative projects and research. She enjoys working in team-oriented environments that encourage innovation, critical thinking, and continuous learning. Alongside her professional interests, she values personal growth, community involvement, and opportunities that allow her to expand her skills while contributing to positive social change. Through her work and experiences, she aims to support initiatives that foster accountability, empowerment, and sustainable development on both local and international levels.
Laura Marino is an Italian professional and researcher committed to migration, human rights, and gender equality. She holds a Master's degree in Planning and Management of Social Work from the University of Parma, complemented by an exchange semester in Social Work and Human Rights at ISCTE Lisbon. She currently serves as a Refugee Support and Integration Coordinator at Fedasil Rixensart, Belgium's only women-specific reception centre, supporting asylum-seeking women, mothers, and unaccompanied minors through education, advocacy, and community outreach. Her experience spans field research on migration transit systems, civic education, and policy analysis, with a growing focus on gender-responsive approaches to social integration. Through the Gender Equality in Policy and Practice programme, she is deepening her commitment to building more equitable and inclusive systems. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, working out, and reading.
Orielle Henriquez (she/her) is a Canadian biochemistry graduate working at the intersection of climate, policy, and community impact. Drawing from her experiences as an African and Latina woman, she is passionate about advancing equity, representation, and inclusive approaches to environmental and social policy. Her background includes environmental research focused on sustainable water systems and ocean science, with experience in data analysis, scientific communication, and evidence-based policy work. Orielle currently contributes to youth-led climate and policy initiatives through the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada and supports accessible human rights advocacy as a grant writer with the Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition. In summer 2026, she will serve as an International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) intern in Indonesia, focusing on sustainable coastal development and the blue economy. In her free time, she enjoys running and reading.
Mia is a Politics and International Relations student at the University of Cambridge with interests in digital governance, gender equality, geopolitical risk, and public policy. Her research spans quantitative research into institutional inequality and the SDGs, analysis of great power politics and international order, and policy reform in digital regulation. She was selected for her policy reform proposal, "A Digital Gender Safety Duty for the UK", which recommended reforms to the UK Online Safety Act addressing algorithmically amplified abuse, deepfake exploitation, and harmful engagement pathways through platform accountability measures. Alongside her research, Mia has experience in election observation, civic education, policy communications, and international engagement through work across the UK and Europe.
Ngo Ky Thu (Kate) Le is ecstatic to be given the opportunity as an intern to further develop her social advocacy campaign focused on supporting the development of an equitable environment for women in Afghanistan! Kate enjoys taking on personal endeavours and testing out her skills in many different fields with the ultimate goal to create lasting, meaningful, and positive contributions to the larger community. She has extensive experience in organizing events, leading teams, and managing social media channels. From being part of the Secretariat team for her city's local Model UN conference to being the volunteer coordinator and marketing manager for a fundraising dinner with over 600 guests, she finds joy in trying new things and would like to do it all! When she's not occupied with her next endeavour, Kate loves to go for runs, socialize with others, and indulge in all kinds of food!