I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the听Arts Undergraduate Society for providing me with this invaluable internship opportunity听through their generous support of the Arts Undergraduate Improvement Fund Internship Award. As a U2 student pursuing a double major in Political Science and International Development Studies at 91丝瓜视频, I have always been passionate about exploring innovative approaches to community engagement and participatory research methods. With a keen interest in human rights, I am planning to pursue a Master鈥檚 of Public Policy after graduation to further develop my understanding of how policy frameworks can protect vulnerable populations.
I chose to intern at the Participatory Cultures Lab specifically because of their groundbreaking work in using digital storytelling as a tool for community empowerment. This research center is dedicated to exploring participatory visual methodologies as means for community engagement, education, and social action. Their approach centers on using accessible technologies like cellphones to enable diverse communities to tell their own stories and advocate for change through digital media creation. The opportunity to work on the 13th International Cellphilm Festival aligned perfectly with my academic interests in examining how technology can be leveraged to amplify marginalized voices and create platforms for cross-cultural dialogue. Having studied various theoretical frameworks of development in my coursework, I was eager to witness firsthand how digital media could be utilized as a practical tool for social change.
During my internship, my responsibilities were diverse and rewarding. I facilitated workshops teaching cellphilm production techniques to various community groups, sorted festival submissions according to thematic categories, prepared comprehensive packages for festival judges, authored the official report for the 13th International Cellphilm Festival, coordinated festival logistics, and managed outreach and social media campaigns to increase public engagement with the event.
My academic background in International Development Studies provided valuable context for understanding the cellphilm methodology as a participatory development tool. The theoretical frameworks I studied regarding community-based participatory research and decolonizing methodologies directly informed my approach to workshop facilitation, ensuring that I prioritized participant agency and cultural sensitivity in all interactions.
The most memorable highlight of my internship was leading four distinct workshops for dramatically different audiences. Each workshop required unique adaptations of the cellphilm methodology: for academics interested in cellphilming as a pedagogical tool, for children at an NGO providing temporary accommodation for asylum seekers, and for Master鈥檚 students at Concordia University.
One significant challenge I faced was developing individualized approaches for each diverse workshop audience. Each group had different needs, backgrounds, and levels of technical knowledge. I overcame this by carefully tailoring my facilitation style and content for each context, creating flexible activities that could be adapted in real-time, and seeking feedback throughout the workshops to ensure participants were engaged and learning effectively.
For this internship, I am receiving academic credit under the supervision of Professor Takamura. My research paper focuses on how cellphilm methodologies reconfigure power dynamics in international development by enabling marginalized communities to reclaim representational agency, challenge epistemic injustice, and drive community-led change through participatory digital storytelling.
This internship has profoundly shaped my career aspirations. It has confirmed my interest in pursuing work at the intersection of media, technology, and international development, particularly in how these tools can advance human rights initiatives globally.
The financial support provided by the Arts Undergraduate Improvement Fund听 Internship Award was instrumental in making this experience possible. The funds covered my accommodation in Montreal, daily commuting costs to the office, and necessary materials for workshop facilitation. Without this support, I would have been unable to fully commit to this valuable learning opportunity.
Thank you to the听 Arts Undergraduate Society for making this experience possible!
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