In the Front Lines
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is active in 166 countries, forming a global network committed to helping nations build democracy, reduce poverty, stop environmental degradation, respond to crises and meet the most pressing global and national development challenges of our times. One of the first FDU interns at the United Nations, Metropolitan Campus student Luiz Telles, spent five months last year immersed in the mission of UNDP.
U.N. intern Luiz
Telles, right, is pic-
tured with Bamidele
Ojo, associate pro-
fessor of political
science, left, and
Undersecretary
General and
Special Adviser on
Africa H.E. Ibrahim
Agboola Gambari.
“The experience of working there is immeasurable,” says Telles. “You walk in the office, and you are not in the United States any longer, but in international territory.” He adds that he met people who are making a difference in the world “by bringing development to the poor; promoting democracy, education and human rights; and combatting HIV. Those are the real superheroes of our days, and everybody should appreciate the struggle of these developers.”
The U.N. internship program started in fall 2003. Normally, these spots are manned by graduate students, but through the assistance of Amb. Ahmad Kamal, FDU undergraduates are eligible for this coveted opportunity. The students work two-to-three days a week and can receive academic credit for the experience.
“They are being entrusted with important responsibilities,” says Dalila Suhonjic, who directs the internship program and notes that the United Nations requires the students to be skilled in a variety of tasks.
Telles is living proof. His chief activities included writing a newsletter called The Academy E-News for the Virtual Development Academy (VDA), a program that involves more than 160 countries and offers courses for the UNDP staff worldwide. Telles also presented a proposal for the refinancing of the VDA to the governments of Sweden and Norway, which financed the first two years of the program. In addition, he graded (along with his boss’s assistance) and organized reports submitted by the UNDP staff worldwide on a Pro-Poor Policies course offered by the VDA during the summer.
Telles, who graduated in May, is planning a career in international relations and politics. The international studies major says his U.N. experiences have greatly boosted his résumé and helped him land several interviews.
Another example is Metropolitan Campus student Goce Kostoski, who spent this spring semester interning with the U.N.’s Group of 77, a coalition of developing countries who promote their collective economic interests. Among other things, Kostoski helped prepare for G-77 meetings, assisted in the production of the G-77 journal and developed a report on the discrimination against migrants. The political science major, who graduated in May, expects to continue his education, possibly in law school.
The FDU students, says Kamal, have “performed their assigned tasks with dignity and competence. We intend to place more of them in different departments of the United Nations in the coming year and beyond and have no doubt that they too will bring credit to the University.”
Return to Opening Page
Renewing Old Bonds | An Illustrious Lineup
Curricular Connections | In the Front Lines
Students Seize the Initiative | A Long Line of Links
FDU Magazine Home | Table of Contents | FDU Home | Alumni Home | Comments
©Copyright 2004 Fairleigh Dickinson University. All rights reserved.
For a print copy of FDU Magazine, featuring this and other stories, contact Rebecca Maxon, editor,
at 201-692-7024 or maxon@fdu.edu.