Cameroon

Overview

Through this virtual program you will examine issues at the intersection of peace, security, human rights, and gender studies and explore the gender dimension of conflict by state and non-state actors. As a result of the ongoing Anglophone crisis in Cameroon, increasing numbers of English-speaking Cameroonians are seeking sovereignty amidst a mostly French-speaking population, and more than 700,000 people have been forced to flee their homes and live in dire conditions. The COVID-19 crisis has added another layer of difficulty to the situation and efforts to provide food, medicine, and support to affected women are complicated by the need for protective masks, gloves, and medical assistance. Your program will allow you to contribute to efforts to resolve the crisis as by interning with an organization working in conflict areas, which may include providing primary emergency care to the affected communities or supporting internally displaced women in urban centers.

During your internship, you will participate in seminars to introduce you to the broader cultural, social, and political context that led to the crisis, as well as workplace norms and the ethics of interning in a foreign country.

You will be expected to devote approximately 37.5 hours a week both on synchronous and asynchronous course activities. Synchronous activities may include orientation sessions, seminar country and theme specific lectures, initial meetings with your internship advisor, group reflection sessions, and project presentations. Frequency, duration, and scheduling of synchronous activities will be determined the first week of the course in conversation with participants to find mutually convenient times. In the event that a student cannot attend a live session, every effort will be made to provide a recording, transcript, or summary for off-line viewing.

Asynchronous activities may include seat time at your internship, break-out groups, check-ins with your academic director, internship coordinator, and your internship mentor, writing progress reports and discussion boards, completing assignments and a final paper, and using audio or video to record reflections on the internship experience. Students are required to demonstrate a strong online presence by participating in group discussions, answering questions, and interacting with course participants and staff.

Highlights

• Complete an internship with a team of innovative and engaged civil society staff.
• Participate in weekly group discussions and reflections on a critical issue affecting Anglophone women.
• Gain valuable professional and intercultural experience.
• Develop an understanding of intersecting issues in peace, security, human rights, and gender studies.

Prerequisites

None.