I have learned a tremendous amount as part of the URI family this summer. Never have I been so welcomed to such a degree in any of my past internships or job experiences, and I appreciate that the staff here at URI very much value the work this organization stands for and the importance of including all individuals as key actors to the cause of peacebuilding and interfaith. My first week here, which served as a sort of orientation, was essential to what would be my experience. This is because I was given time before my task here at URI to really understand the organization and what it stands for, which ended up helping me tremendously in the work at hand. This is definitely a component that I recommend to continue with future interns so that they may find their place within URI to perform their work having a good understanding of the mission and purpose.
Another highlight of mine was the actual task itself. As a communications intern, where I had to examine every Cooperation Circle (CC) description and locate the images and social media platforms of each CC, I was able to have an intimate understanding and exposure to the cooperation circles that make up URI and the grassroots work they engage in to change their communities and the world. Coming across the amazing work conducted by the global URI family was a constant motivator for myself to use all of my resources to best improve the platform of these URI circles so that others around the world hear of their actions and work.
"Coming across the amazing work conducted by the global URI family was a constant motivator"
During the NAIN conference I attended recently, the issue of age came up in regards to intergenerational dialogue around interfaith and faith in general, where it was emphasized that youth voices are not heard and that the older generation is leading faith and/or interfaith movements. I bring this up to express that as the youngest person on the staff during my time here, never did I feel that my age held me back or prevented me from voicing my opinion. It was clear that everyone here, old or young, had an equal voice, which I saw highlighted in the many youth-led cooperation circles I came across while performing my task.
"I was able to hear the bottom-up organizational structure that makes URI so successful and impactful"
Lastly, the group of leaders from various African countries that visited the office recently was an amazing thing to encounter while I was here, mainly because I was able to hear the bottom-up organizational structure that makes URI so successful and impactful in engaging in interfaith, as well as being able to overhear the amazing work these leaders are doing in their countries and how they actively seek to improve human conditions globally by starting locally.
In the midst of a toxic political climate and the prevalent violence affecting millions of people around the world, it is the work of grassroots people in cultivating cultures of peace as a part of their everyday realities that I take with me as I continue my journey.
Safia Belayadi worked as a Communications intern in URI's Global Staff Office in San Francisco, CA, USA for the summer of 2017.
