OXFAM VCU Student Intern Video

Ahmed A Dini 2008 SWS Student Video

I have been at VCU since 2003, taking ELP classes during the 2004 fall semester.   The 2008/2009 semesters will be my last year at VCU and I am so glad of what I have accomplished so far.   I am double majoring in International Studies/Global Health and Religion with a minor in International Social Justice.                  

I have been selected to participate in the Change Leaders Initiative internship which is sponsored by Oxfam America every year where more than one thousand students apply each year and only fifty out of those one thousand applicants are selected.   The Change Initiative internship is a highly competitive national program that trains college students to become actively engaged in Oxfam America’s social justice mission.   Change develops capable leaders, who are an informed voice for positive social change and who inspires greater global awareness in others.   Change leaders Interns are brought together for an intensive week of leadership training that equips them to be effective Change advocates.   Students are introduced to social justice issues directly related to Oxfam America’s mission, and are asked to work these issues on their campus during the academic school year.   Basically each student will be an Oxfam ambassador to their school.   Oxfam assumes the cost of training each intern and providing free room and board and travel during this years training session and will take place in Boston, Massachusetts.

Change leaders are assisted throughout the year by their Change Campus Adviser and Oxfam America outreach staff.   The change initiative complements Oxfam’s work, challenging injustice through political action and organizing for change and focus areas to contribute to our global justice mission such as, oil, gas, mining, climate change, hunger and poverty.

I have been selected to participate in this program because of the humanitarian work that I have volunteered in, during my studies at VCU.   These programs include many non profit organizations such as, Catholic Refugees and Immigration Services, Virginia Council of Churches Refugees and Immigration Services and Red Cross.   I also assist Somali and Burmese refugees around the Richmond area, helping them to overcome communication barriers when dealing with social security and social services.   I work thirty two hours each week in order to help orphanage centers in my native country Somalia.   I always support and fight for social justice, human rights and one of my dreams in life   is to build bridges between different faiths, cultures and help poor and unfortunate people. This is one of the qualities that Oxfam America looks for and I am lucky to be the first person they called for an interview out of over seven hundred students across the USA.

  The School of world studies staff are very supportive and I appreciate their support and courage.     I would like to thank Jessica Lonnes, who without her I would have not gotten this internship.   She encouraged and guided me in applying for this internship.     I am very proud of having her as my adviser and friend. Her recommendation letter that she sent to Oxfam plays a significant role in convincing Oxfam to choose me.

I was able to participate on a huge variety of projects, including disaster relief and preparedness for summer outreach.