Study and Intern in Northern Ireland

My time in Northern Ireland was an absolutely life changing experience. It is not your typical study abroad experience, it is pretty structured but it's that way for a reason. I got to speak to people on both sides of the conflict in Northern Ireland as well as learn in depth about what peace building really looks like in a modern society. I also got opportunity to intern at a community development organization where I met so many incredible people with amazing stories. Northern Ireland is also an extremely beautiful place that I got to explore a lot of. The north coast is one of the most breath taking places I've ever been to. Northern Ireland is a unique place that changed my life and this program is a huge part of that. I would do my study abroad 100 times over if I could.

My four months based in Derry/Londonderry were spent attending long but fascinating lectures about Northern Irish history and The Troubles, an internship at the Bloody Sunday Trust (the organization that runs the Museum of Free Derry), visiting towns and organizations historically significant to the conflict, and listening to stories shared very willingly by survivors of the violence that gripped the region not too long ago.

This program provided an immersion within conflict studies that profoundly changed my view of the world, altered the focus of my studies and my post-college trajectory. I was one of six midwestern liberal arts students in the cohort, and we lived together in a Bogside flat. The combination of a focused and relatively rigorous classroom experience with day-to-day encounters of a "post-conflict" society provided the exact level of engagement and experiential understanding I was looking for.

After the program ended, I went back to school to continue my Political Science degree, and then returned to Northern Ireland for a year as a volunteer at Corrymeela, a peace and reconciliation center for the region. My time with the CGEE program in Derry ultimately realized three outcomes: a fascinating and immersive academic experience, a want for much, much more, and the connections and context to make 'much more' happen. I would highly recommend this program for those who want to seriously engage with significant topics in the realms of history and political science.

The internship component of the HECUA program is one that is truly special. Unlike many other study abroad experiences, HECUA allows you to intern at a community peace-building organization. I got the unique opportunity to intern at a truth recovery/human rights legal NGO, which solidified my interest in human rights law for the future. Although I am not from Northern Ireland, I felt like I was able to connect with the community in a unique way through the internship. It made the city of Derry/Londoderry a bit smaller and a place that I will absolutely return to.

When I applied for this program, I knew I would appreciate the academics and the opportunities provided, but I was surprised by how deeply I fell in love with the people of Northern Ireland. I was always welcomed with open arms in every situation I entered into, and made good friends that I still keep in touch with now that the program is over. Every Tuesday I would grab my bodhran (traditional Irish drum) and head down to a local pub to play in a trad session. Even though I was a beginner, I was always greeted heartily and never felt shy about playing along. The folks at my internship made me feel like I was part of the community, and I always had someone to grab a cup of tea with me. I've never met such thoughtful, warm, and caring people, and I know that when I go back, I'll be greeted as if I had never left.