My Internship at the Rafto Foundation
My name is Andrea Rygh-Johansen, and I'm currently in my second year of the master’s program in Politics and Governance of Global Challenges. Before this, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Administration and Organizational Science here at the institute. This semester, I wanted to step out of the reading hall and get insight into what working life looks like, as well as how the theories and methods we’ve learned in our master’s program apply to real-world challenges.
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After working three months in Rafto, I have gained knowledge and insight that no book could ever give me.
The most valuable aspect of my internship was gaining an inside look at how a small organization like Rafto operates. I got the chance to see firsthand how they advocate for human rights on a global scale, from conducting in-depth research to executing impactful campaigns. Despite their small size, their ability to creatively and efficiently use their resources to fight human rights violations was incredibly inspiring.
Research was one of my main tasks during the internship, and luckily for me, the master program had equipped me well for this. I was able to apply techniques from my courses, from both how to understand global challenges and how to research global challenges.
The highlight of my stay at Rafto was meeting North Korean artist and activist Song Byeok, who visited the Rafto house. Hearing his firsthand account of living under, and ultimately escaping, North Korea’s totalitarian regime was both humbling and unforgettable. It gave me a deeper understanding of the human impact of the global challenges we study.
For future students, my biggest advice is to take the leap during your third semester. Choose an organization whose values and work resonate with you, and most importantly, pick one that aligns with your personal interests. When you’re passionate about the cause, the experience doesn’t feel like work (most of the time).