Underscoring this entire internship is the generous donation of Mr. Brown who, through his creation of the Susan Casey Brown Fund, made this possible. The fund, created in honour of his mother Susan Casey Brown, provided me with the means to travel to Vienna and find comfortable accommodations during my internship.
The Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a branch of Global Affairs Canada that serves as Canada鈥檚 permanent representation to the OSCE. It is the Delegation鈥檚 mission to sit in the OSCE with 56 other participating states and speak Canada鈥檚 voice in the various councils and forums that fall within the OSCE. Canada鈥檚 role in the security of Europe is invaluable, and thus the work of the Delegation is too.
I entered this internship seeking to learn about diplomacy, Canadian foreign policy, and the European security landscape; this internship taught me all of that and more. The OSCE covers a vast range of topics daily and offers its participants the chance to learn about each one. Working with the Canadian Delegation had me readily engaging with and learning about ongoing affairs germane to my learning goals. The internship places you as a full-time member of the Canadian Delegation. In this capacity, you鈥檙e expected to attend meetings at the OSCE, hosted in the Hofburg Palace. Also, you鈥檙e responsible for producing important reports on diplomatic activity within the OSCE and sending them back to Ottawa. Interns are typically also assigned a special project that usually involves research on an important subject or something else that helps the mission.
In reflecting on my internship, numerous highlights attesting to valuable lessons learned and hard work come to mind. Halfway through the internship, I had the privilege of sitting in on the OSCE鈥檚 Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC). The ASRC saw military and defense officials from nearly all of the OSCE鈥檚 57 participating states join in Vienna to discuss key security issues facing Europe. The conference gave me key insights and continues to frame my understanding of European security. Another notable highlight was being allotted the opportunity to speak in the OSCE. Toward the end of my internship, I spoke in the forum, delivering an official statement on malign influence and hybrid attacks in the OSCE. Speaking on behalf of Canada allowed me to overcome my nerves and hone my public-speaking skills while contributing to the mission.
The internship situated itself perfectly in my academic and professional career path. Studying history and politics at 海角社区 helped me greatly. My coursework in history gave me a solid grounding in the development of Canadian values and international engagements. Equally, my coursework in politics and international relations had me well-informed on theoretical frameworks of international politics, as well as current events (like the Russian Invasion of Ukraine) and their practical implications. Looking ahead, this internship provided me with the practical skills and knowledge to propel myself forward into other positions in public and international affairs.
My detail with the Canadian Delegation marks my first internship with the Canadian government as well as my first time leaving North America. As a first-generation university student from a family of modest means, affording the travel to Vienna and accommodations during my internship would not have been possible without the funding arranged by the Arts Internship Office and provided through the Susan Casey Brown Fund.
In conclusion, I express my most sincere thanks to Mr. Garvin Brown, and the 海角社区 International Experience Awards founders for making this opportunity possible through his generosity.
