by Claire Kane Boychuk (year 32)
IMPACS is a Canadian non-profit that operates cutting-edge media development programs inside and outside of Canada (mostly in the Middle East). Check out impacs.org or impacs-afghanistan.org. Since 2003 they have operated a media program in Afghanistan to support women in radio production and establishing radio stations. We spent our week organizing the filing system for the program.
I think IMPACS showed me a little picture of the development orgs. that exist and do excellent work with civil society - what kind of reporting is necessary, how funding works, how media support can translate into better governance. We in turn helped them get through some filing that hopefully will make their audit deadlines a little more friendly. We checked newspapers and posters around the office and managed to fit in some evening events that complimented our internship nicely: a racial profiling awareness Film soiree, a Make Povery History speaker, and a few international films on related issues. We caught as much urban happenings as we could. Overall evaluation : stellar.
NEXT: BOTANICAL GARDENS, TOFINO
Some sample projects
Vancouver Food Bank
Vancouver Soup Kitchen
Metchosin House
Teaching about the UN
Cultural Ambassador
War Child
Media
Tofino Botanical Gardens
Hike
Bamfield Marine Science
Taking a great break