·¬ÇÑÉçÇø

Capstone Projects

Sasha Mosky's plant pressings from her internship in India
For her capstone project, 2017 intern Sasha Mosky collected plants that people in Rajasthan use for cooking, medicine, and ceremony to "challenge some of the narratives around India being polluted and people not respecting their environment"

CAPI Interns and Scholars complete a self-designed investigation during their field-based experience. Capstone Projects provide an opportunity for students to reflect upon their experiences, share with others, and consider next steps beyond thier research and overseas placements. 

Sierra Grant


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Sierra Grant


CAPSTONE

My capstone project encompasses key information and knowledge I acquired throughout my internship that I think will be helpful for future interns. I created a CAPI intern guide to Jakarta that includes information on everything from navigating immigration and customs when you first arrive to making friends in Jakarta. Putting this guide together allowed me space to reflect on my time and experiences in Indonesia and I hope it will help make the transition of moving to a different country a little smoother for future CAPI/CIPS interns.

  • UVic field(s) of study:
    Statistics, Psychology, and Applied Ethics
  • Internship host organization:
    Center for Indonesian Policy Studies
  • Location: 
    Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Internship duration: 
    May to October 2023
  • Sponsor: 
    Queen Elizabeth Scholars

Kelly Van der Heide

Kelly

Kelly Van der Heide

CAPSTONE

My capstone project is a 'scrapbook' of migration stories. These stories were gathered from a variety of people in my life, including coworkers I had in Bangkok during my internship with the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW). These people were gracious to share parts of their personal stories with me. Additionally, students from the Karenni Social Development Centre (KSDC) in northern Thailand also shared parts of their story. While working with GAATW I learned a lot about how complicated migration/crossing borders can be for people from other countries. I also reflected a lot on how many people I know that have migrated at some point in their lives. I am incredibly grateful for all the participants in this booklet. 

  • UVic field(s) of study:
    Political Science, Global Development Studies
  • Internship host organization:
  • Location: 
    Bangkok, Thailand
  • Internship duration: 
    May to October 2023
  • Sponsor: 
    Queen Elizabeth Scholars

Karunia Fila

karunia fila

Karunia Fila

CAPSTONE

My capstone project is a collection of 13 short mythologies shared with me by my students at the Karenni Social Development Center. As I am very interested in mythology and folk tales, I thought it would be a fun project to document some of the stories that my students may have heard from their parents and grandparents when they were young. Stories that were “perhaps true or maybe not true.” After collecting the oral stories from my students, I wrote them down, added vocabulary and illustrated them with watercolor paintings. At the back you can see photos and a short bio of each person who shared a story with me.

 

  • UVic field(s) of study:
    Pacific and Asian Studies
  • Internship host organization:
  • Location: 
    Mae Hong Son, Thailand
  • Internship duration: 
    June to November 2023
  • Sponsor: 
    Global Skills Opportunity

Faaiza Vakil


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Faaiza Vakil

CAPSTONE

Throughout my internship, I journaled, sent letters & postcards, and read consistently. For my capstone project, I wanted to explore my main takeaways, journal entries and passages from the books I read during my time abroad. I took these and created “Letters from Malaysia” - a series of letters to every month I was away. I had the opportunity to slow down and reflect on everything that was going on around me, from personal to professional reflections, and I wanted to capture this through this project. Every month was different, filled with happy and sad memories but every month taught me something new, and that was the best part.  

  • UVic field(s) of study:
    Social Work
  • Internship host organization:
  • Location: 
    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Internship duration: 
    May to October 2023
  • Sponsor: 
    Queen Elizabeth Scholars

Olivia Delisle

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Olivia Delisle

CAPSTONE

In partnership with PACOS Trust and Community Learning Centres (CLCs) across Sabah, Malaysia, I had the opportunity to develop a for our Verticle University Pilot Project. The mission of this project was to connect urban centers with rural Indigenous communities. Verticle University, as a program, fosters cultural exchange, promotes sustainable practices, and empowers these communities. Follow along as Olivia, Rufina, and Regia visit Kampung Kibunut, Saguon, Kodong & Liu Pitas, Kalampun, and Rumantai.

  • UVic field(s) of study:
    Geography (major), Global Development Studies (minor)
  • Internship host organization:
  • Location: 
    Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
  • Internship duration: 
    June to November 2023
  • Sponsor: 
    Global Skills Opportunity

Jake Crocker

 

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Jake Croker

CAPSTONE

For this Capstone Project I have decided to write a short film script titled, Ropana, which was inspired by the small villages that have formed outside Indonesia’s largest landfill, Bantar Gebang. With up to 7,000 tonnes of waste dumped daily, the landfill has grown over 50m high and stretches out over 110 hectares wide. The site has engulfed land which was previously forests and rice fields.

However, with typical Indonesian industriousness, villagers have built communities and jobs around the landfill. Men and women of all ages work from dawn to dusk as “pickers” on the mountain of trash, sifting through garbage to find improperly discarded recyclable materials that collect a deposit rebate. It is similar to the cash-back system at a bottle-depot in Canada, but on a communal scale. Many of these “pickers” were previously rice farmers but can collect three times the wage picking for garbage.

  • UVic field of study:
    Economics and Mathematics
  • Internship host organization:
  • Location: 
    Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Internship duration: 
    May to October 2023
  • Sponsor: 
    Queen Elizabeth Scholars

Pascale Claughton

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Pascale Claughton


CAPSTONE

My capstone project is an intern’s guide to Kota Kinabalu, a city in Sabah, Malaysia where I completed my internship with DAP Service Center.

  • UVic field(s) of study:
    Psychology
  • Internship host organization:
  • Location: 
    Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
  • Internship duration: 
    June to November 2023
  • Sponsor: 
    Global Skills Opportunity

Charlotte Clar


2022 CAPI intern Charlotte Clar

Charlotte Clar

  • Hometown: 
    Victoria, BC
  • UVic department of study: 
    History (major), English - Professional Communications (minor)
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    Bangkok, Thailand
  • Internship duration: 
    June to December 2022

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Charlotte is nearing the completion of her degree at UVic with a major in History and minor in Professional Communications. She will be travelling to Bangkok, Thailand to work for the Global Alliance against Traffic in Women, an alliance of NGOs with a human rights approach to their anti-trafficking and migrant rights work, to support their communications efforts. She has an interest in migration and women's rights and is grateful to CAPI for the opportunity to work for this meaningful organization as well as looks forward to learning more about Thailand.

capstone project

My capstone project is a photo essay that explores the theme of women's work in the neighbourhood I lived in in Bangkok, Thailand. Whilst working at the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) International Secretariat, I reflected on what is considered women's labour and the implications that can go along with an assigned definition. I wanted to highlight the work that some of the Thai women I had met to show how much work they do in a day, how diverse that work can be, and hear their own thoughts on this subject. 

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Keiran Ellis


2022 CAPI intern Keiran Ellis

Keiran Ellis

  • Hometown: 
    Victoria, BC
  • UVic department of study: 
    Political Science (major), Philosophy (minor)
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Internship duration: 
    July 2022 - January 2023

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Keiran is a fourth-year student completing her BA in political science and philosophy at the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø. She has a passion for social justice, minority rights, refugee studies, immigration, and social policies. Through her internship at the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS) in Jakarta, Indonesia, she will examine a wide range of social and economic policies that impact local Indonesian communities. Keiran is incredibly excited and honoured to have this opportunity. She is grateful to CAPI, the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program, and CIPS for making all of this a possibility.

capstone project

Throughout my internship, food was an overarching theme in both my personal life and my life at the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies. Conversations were had, friendships were formed, and memories were created. Food is a universal, cross-cultural experience that allows us to bond, irrespective of where we come from. As such, I wanted to dedicate my capstone project to the wonderful meals I had tried throughout my stay in Indonesia. Lilly, my neighbour, would frequently cook meals for me– and I had the opportunity to watch the traditional techniques and methods used to prepare Indonesian food. My capstone project is a compilation of Lilly’s recipes– a project she excitedly helped me with!

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Haley Ham


2022 CAPI intern Haley Ham

Hayley Ham

  • Hometown: 
    Hong Kong
  • UVic field(s) of study:
    Political Science (major), Philosophy (minor)
  • Internship host organization:
  • Location: 
    Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Internship duration: 
    July 2022 - January 2023
  • Sponsor: 
    Queen Elizabeth Scholars

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Haley was born and raised in Hong Kong and moved to Victoria BC in 2013. She is a political science major and a philosophy minor who loves talking to people and working in challenging environments.

capstone project

This CAPSTONE project is a diary-style reflection of my time as an intern at the Centre for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS) based in Jakarta; it is inspired by Matthew McConaughey's book "Greenlights" and presents my thoughts, feelings, and general insights from this formative time. I want to encourage you to embrace uncertainty, take risks, and seize opportunities when they present themselves. As an intern, I discovered that taking risks and embracing the unknown leads to invaluable personal growth.

The concept of "Greenlights" in life is a key theme of this project. By seizing opportunities when they arise, you learn new things and uncover new challenges that can sharpen you. Through my experiences, I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the Indonesian policy landscape and which has propelled me into new passions and self-discovery. This project invites you to join me on my journey of growth and self-discovery to explore the transformative power of seizing opportunities and embracing the unknown.

Jennifer Janssen


CAPI 2022 intern Jennifer Janssen

Jennifer Janssen

  • Hometown: 
    Mexico City
  • UVic field(s) of study:
    Psychology (major), Global Development Studies (minor)
  • Internship host organization:
  • Location: 
    Bangkok, Thailand
  • Internship duration: 
    June-December 2022
  • Sponsor: 
    Queen Elizabeth Scholars

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Jennifer grew up in Mexico City and moved to Canada when she was fifteen. Growing up in two distinct cultures has cultivated Jennifer’s interest in global development issues of migration, poverty, and women’s empowerment. Currently, Jennifer is working towards a major in Psychology and minor in Global Development Studies at the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø. Jennifer’s passion for women’s empowerment led her to join GAATW, an alliance of NGO’s focused on anti-human trafficking in women and migrant advocacy. In the latter half of 2022, she will be traveling to Bangkok to work for GAATW. She is grateful to CAPI for giving her the opportunity to pursue her passions and immerse herself in a vibrant and profound culture.

capstone project

My Capstone project "" is a gathering of thoughts, sounds, and photos of my time living in Thailand. It includes recordings from events attended as part of GAATW, sounds that caught my attention while exploring, and moments shared with work colleagues and friends. Through music, laughter, and human connection this collection reflects the sense of home and belonging I experienced while trying to make sense of my being in a different culture and environment that holds so much beauty, and similarities to where I grew up. It is my attempt at bridging feeling at home in a different part of the world; a concept that has extended beyond my birthplace and holds such deep roots in the infinite human connections that enrich my being and has made this all possible.

Isabel Simons


2022 CAPI intern Isabel Simons

Isabel Simons

  • UVic field(s) of study:
    Political Science (major), Global Development Studies (minor)
  • Internship host organization:
  • Location: 
    Mae Hong Son, Thailand
  • Internship duration: 
    June - November 2022
  • Sponsor: 
    Queen Elizabeth Scholars

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Isabel is completing her BA (Hon) in political science with a minor in global development studies. She is passionate about migrants’ and displaced peoples’ rights, environmental politics, and grassroots social change. She looks forward to applying this enthusiasm to working with youth at the Karenni Social Development Centre in northern Thailand.

capstone project

My capstone project developed organically during my time at KSDC and my experience with place and language while living in Ban Nai Soi. As an English teacher, language learning was a key site of relationship-building between myself and KSDC students. Learning and using Karenni words evened the power balance imbued in the flow of knowledge, was a source of interpersonal connection, and gave the natural landscape and food systems a sense of familiarity and ease. 

In gratitude for the way language sharing created connections and deepened my sense of place. I collaborated with KSDC student Bu Reh to create a learning resource for KSDC students and teachers alike. English words and Karenni-English transliterations for common words are paired with voice recordings that can be easily accessed and used.

Elly Thompson


2022 CAPI intern Elly Thompson

  • Hometown: 
    Vernon, BC
  • UVic field(s) of study:
    Political Science (major), Global Development Studies (minor)
  • Internship host organization:
  • Location: 
    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Internship duration: 
    July-December 2022
  • Sponsor: 
    Queen Elizabeth Scholars

Kaylin Arason


Kaylin Arason

Kaylin Arason

  • Hometown: 
    Peachland, BC
  • UVic department of study: 
    Political Science and Gender Studies
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    Thailand
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2019

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Kaylin is in her fourth year, working towards a double major in political science and gender studies. The interdisciplinary nature of her education has inspired a broad range of interests, including the complexities of labour, gender, race, and migration. Kaylin will be travelling to Bangkok to work with GAATW, an alliance of NGOs with a human rights approach to their anti-trafficking and migrant rights work. As a mixed-race woman whose mother immigrated to Canada from the Philippines, Kaylin is eager to deepen her personal relationship with these topics but also develop a more nuanced understanding of globalization in relation to migration. She is grateful to CAPI for the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in her prospective field and immerse herself in an unfamiliar but rich cultural space. 

capstone project

My capstone project is an artistic expression of my experience interning and living in Bangkok—a collection of analog images, thoughts & reflections, and art pieces. Exploring the themes of space & place, embodiment, and "home," this project transcends temporal and geographical boundaries. The story shared here is only snippets of my experience: photographs I captured while in Bangkok, words I wrote in my journal on weekends, and poetry and photographs that I've created since returning to Lekwungen territories (Victoria). These snippets that might seem fragmented are crafted together to build a cohesive whole. I share this vulnerable space with you in hopes to translate deep feelings of love and gratitude, as well as what it means for me to "come home to myself."

view the pdf:

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Hayley Dwyer


Haley Dwyer

Hayley Dwyer

  • Hometown: 
    Victoria, BC
  • UVic department of study: 
    Social Work
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    Malaysia
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2019

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Hayley is completing her bachelor’s degree in social work at the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø. She is born and raised in the lower mainland and has spent many years navigating life in the global south. She has an interest in transnational migration with a particular focus on the mental and physical health of migrants. She feels passionate about seeking knowledge of the lived struggles, experiences and resilience of women, families, and communities. She is committed to breaking down stigma and barriers that prevent marginalized voices from being heard. She is very excited to be a part of this cross-cultural learning experience with MSRI and honoured to have this opportunity from CAPI. 

capstone project

My Capstone project is a collaborative booklet that provides an overview of the programs that are offered at the Malaysian Social Research Institute (MSRI). I worked alongside staff and interns at MSRI to compile updated, informative and concise information that may provide an impactful foundation for future staff and interns. The booklet covers MSRI’s historical context, as well as the Sahabat Education Programm, Sahabat Healthcare Programme and the Elham Empowerment Programme. Additionally, this booklet includes prominent legal advice and information that is critical for individuals who are navigating MSRI’s work as well as general advocacy around refugees, asylum seekers and, basic human and legal rights.

view the pdf:

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Meghan Flood


Meghan Flood

Meghan Flood

  • Hometown: 
    Burnaby, BC
  • UVic department of study: 
    Geography, Professional Communications
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    Japan
  • Internship duration: 
    September-December 2019

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Meghan is a fifth-year Geography and Professional Communications student, concentrating in Environment and Sustainability. She has a keen interest in sustainable urban development and how forms of communication and media can be used as a translation of knowledge from scientist to citizen. She is additionally interested in the intersectionality of arts, activism, and environment in digital media, and how this impacts social and spatial patterns within cities. Meghan is looking forward to gaining international work experience with CITYNET Yokohama and is excited for the lived-experiences which will bring her a deeper understanding of the barriers to sustainability Asian cities are facing. Meghan is incredibly grateful to CAPI for this opportunity which brings her interests, passions, and career goals together for an invaluable capstone experience.

capstone project

Mimi and Hanna had gone to the market to pick up bread for dinner, as their mother instructed. Suddenly, Mimi was knocked off her feet as the ground seemed to jolt out from under her. Hanna turned to her little sister, grabbing her hand and screaming, “Earthquake!”

Throughout my internship with CITYNET Yokohama Project Office, an overarching theme of both my work and my day-to-day life was disasters and natural hazards. While living in Yokohama, I experienced two violent typhoons, and a number of small earthquakes. At work, I learned each day about Disaster Risk Reduction, a major topic of work for CITYNET. Over my internship, I realized how important being prepared for disasters was, and could see the gaps in DRR knowledge myself and other Canadians have. For my capstone project, I decided to write a short children’s story about two sisters caught in an earthquake, learning important DRR lessons as they find their way back home to reunite with their parents.

view the pdf:

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Tracy Hampton


Tracy Hampton

Tracy Hampton

  • Hometown: 
    Grimshaw, Alberta
  • UVic department of study: 
    Sociology and Political Science
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    Malaysia
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2019

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Tracy is in her third year studying Political Science and Sociology at the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø. She is interested in studying racialization, migration and economic inequality. She will be spending time in Malaysia working and learning with the Malaysian Social Research Institute. Tracy is extremely grateful for the opportunity provided to her through CAPI and the Queen Elizabeth Scholars programs.

capstone project

My capstone, "Defining a refugee," is an attempt to challenge current harmful narratives around what it means to be a refugee by showcasing how refugees themselves understand the term while simultaneously showing who these individuals are as human beings. Each page contains a photograph taken of the individual representing who they are and a written account of their answers to the following questions: What makes you happy? How do you define yourself? What are you good at? What do you hope for the future? How do you define a refugee? This project is meant to ignite empathy within those of us who are far removed from the ongoing "refugee crisis" by highlighting the emotions, perspectives and experiences often overshadowed in the media.

view the pdf:

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Taylor Josephy


Taylor Josephy

Taylor Josephy

  • Hometown: 
    Quesnel, BC
  • UVic department of study: 
    Earth & Ocean Sciences, Envir. Restoration (diploma)
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    Zambia
  • Internship duration: 
    June-August 2019

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Taylor is in his final year of a BSc in Earth Science and a diploma in environmental restoration with the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø. He is interested in the interactions between land-use, hydrology, and poverty in rural sub-Saharan Africa and will be returning to Zambia to help with The SAM Project’s rural water development programs. Taylor will be working alongside SAM, the local tribal leadership, various government offices, and rural communities to inspect the feasibility of diversifying Zambia’s rainwater harvesting strategies to improve food and water security in drought-prone areas. He is looking forward to strengthening old relationships and forming new ones, and he is extremely grateful to the CAPI program for the opportunity to do so.

Jemma Kosalko


Jemma Kosalko

Jemma Kosalko

  • Hometown: 
    Smithers, BC
  • UVic department of study: 
    Political Science, Intercultural Education (diploma)
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    Indonesia
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2019

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Jemma is currently in her third year pursuing a BA in Political Science alongside a Diploma in Intercultural Education. She is interested in International Relations, specifically migration, sustainable development. In addition, the impacts of globalization - looking at social justice and the interactions amongst cultures through this. Jemma is thrilled to be working with the Centre for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS) in Jarkarta, Indonesia and looks forward to collaborating with the team and understanding the effects of politics through policy and building on this through experiential learning. She is eager to explore the influence of political think-tanks in social and economic reform and grateful to CAPI and CIPS this opportunity and their support!

Olvie Li


Olive Li

Olvie Li

  • Hometown: 
    Richmond Hill, Ontario
  • UVic department of study: 
    Master's student, Social Dimensions of Health
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    India
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2019

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Olvie is currently working on her master’s thesis in the Social Dimensions of Health program at the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø. Her research interests are focused on the self-determination of Indigenous youth in sexuality and healthy relationships within the resurgence of traditional land, language, and nationhood. Professionally, she is a Community Health Nurse working primarily within remote Indigenous communities. Born and raised in Ontario with a love of food, culture, languages, travelling, and the outdoors (Vancouver Island is growing on her!), Olvie is excited to be a CAPI intern this year and join PRIA in learning more about community capacity building and participatory action research in health advocacy, education, and promotion. She thanks CAPI for this incredible opportunity and knows it will challenge and change her in ways unimaginable!

capstone project

What is sex and sexuality? And how do youth in India experience it in the context of their realities? Join Olvie Li, 2019 CAPI Intern, who spent 6 months in New Delhi at the Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) helping the NGO develop sexual health curriculum to be delivered all over schools in India. In this six episode podcast series, Olvie (Registered Nurse and Sex Educator) interviews youth in New Delhi about their sexuality and views on sexual health education in India. Dhanyawad & shukriya for listening!

Listen to Olvie's on Soundcloud

Jess MacIver


Jess MacIver

Jess MacIver

  • Hometown: 
    North Vancouver, BC
  • UVic department of study: 
    Anthropology and Philosophy
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    South Africa
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2019

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Jess MacIver is a fifth-year student at UVic, getting her double major in Anthropology & Archaeology and Religious Philosophy. She has worked with children for 9 years, resulting in a focus on early childhood learning, collaborative learning, and empowerment through education. For her internship, she will be working with Ukulapha and be heading to Slangspruit, a small township in South Africa. Here she will be working in the elementary school, assisting in the classroom as well as leading summer camps for the young girls during school break. Jess is incredibly grateful to CAPI and QES for this chance to really engage with not only the youth, but the community as a whole, and to further her education in this amazing way.

capstone project

Throughout our time in South Africa, we witnessed the direct aftermath of Apartheid, in particular with the underfunding and lack of support from the government for the township schools. We witnessed resilience and passion within the children despite the academic, emotional, and socio-economic challenges that they were facing. We were inspired to create a capstone that would assist future interns in navigating their role at Slangspruit school, with Ukulpaha Project, and in South Africa. We hope that our handbook will assist interns in transitioning into their new role and most importantly, help them to be able to work in a way that puts the students first.

view the pdf:

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Ariana Maragh


Ariana Maragh

Ariana Maragh

  • Hometown: 
    Victoria, BC
  • UVic department of study: 
    Social Work
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    South Africa
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2019

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Ariana is a fourth year Social Work student with a focus on child welfare and child protection. She is thrilled and grateful to receive the opportunity to be working with Ukulapha Community Outreach Project in South Africa. Ariana currently works with children and teens of various demographics and is excited to translate this into her work at Slangspruit Primary School. She is passionate about social justice and advocating for marginalized demographics. She believes expanding your lens and recognizing your own positionality truly fosters empathy and growth. She is excited for this life experience that will point her in many unknown directions.

capstone project

Throughout our time in South Africa, we witnessed the direct aftermath of Apartheid, in particular with the underfunding and lack of support from the government for the township schools. We witnessed resilience and passion within the children despite the academic, emotional, and socio-economic challenges that they were facing. We were inspired to create a capstone that would assist future interns in navigating their role at Slangspruit school, with Ukulpaha Project, and in South Africa. We hope that our handbook will assist interns in transitioning into their new role and most importantly, help them to be able to work in a way that puts the students first.

view the pdf:

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Maeve Milligan


Maeve Milligan

Maeve Milligan

  • Hometown: 
    Campbell River, BC
  • UVic department of study: 
    Pacific and Asian Studies
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    Indonesia
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2019

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Maeve is in her fourth year of a degree in Pacific and Asian Studies at UVic. She is passionate about food and photography and is excited to start a six-month internship with CIPS (Center for Indonesian Policy Studies) in Jakarta, Indonesia. Maeve is interested in how policy affects local communities and is looking forward to exploring this relationship with CIPS. She is very grateful to CAPI for providing this great opportunity to broaden her horizons and hopes that her experience will put her in a good place to start a Masters in International Development.

capstone project

Food is our common ground, a universal experience. —James Beard

The Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS) works to promote food security in Indonesia. To understand what food means to people in Indonesia it’s important to know where that food came from, what it cost, and what is done to prepare it for the dinner table. For my Capstone project fellow intern Jemma Kosalko and I decided to document all the steps we took to make a popular Indonesian dish called Gado-Gado. Through this experience we reflected on how food in Indonesia is experienced differently than in Canada. We learned about the importance of the traditional market in food preparation, and how complicated it can be to prepare the food we ate in roadside stalls every day.

Selina Powszedny


Selina Powszedny

Selina Powszedny

  • Hometown: 
    Squamish, BC
  • UVic department of study: 
    Environmental Studies and Geography
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    Malaysia
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2019

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Selina is studying Environmental Studies and Geography at the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø, and is excited to work with MSRI! Selina is interested in holistic sustainability, especially in urban settings. Her passion for sustainability, and therefore social justice, led her to becoming a CAPI intern, and she is looking forward to being an intern with MSRI in Kuala Lumpur. Additionally, Selina is excited to be able to experience living in a place that is drastically different geographically and culturally.

capstone project

A Different Kind of Progress, is a collaborative effort between some of the students who were in both the Sustainability Club and Art Club at the Malaysian Social Research Institute and I. We worked together to create an idea for a story, which the students had free reign to draw and paint pictures for. They each chose 3 to 4 statements they wanted to paint a picture of. Seeing the way each student interpreted each statement is fascinating. The story tries to highlight how all problems are interconnected and how these large global problems actually provide chances to create a greater future.

view the pdf:

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Luisa Schwarz


Luisa Schwarz

Luisa Schwarz

  • Hometown: 
    Fredericton, NB
  • UVic department of study: 
    Geography and Enivronmental Studies
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    Thailand
  • Internship duration: 
    June-December 2019

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Luisa is in her fourth year of Geography and Environmental Studies at Uvic. She is very interested in resource conservation and the rights of minorities. Throughout this internship Luisa will be working at the Karenni Social Development Centre in the North of Thailand. She is very excited to teach and learn from Karenni youth and learn more about Myanmar and Thailand. She is extremely grateful to both CAPI and the KSDC for this opportunity.

capstone project

My capstone project, “Karenni Traditional Storybook”, is a collection of stories and art work created and narrated by the students and teachers at the Karenni Social Development Center. The subjects for the book were chosen by the students as traditions and celebrations play an important role in their community. This project hopes to narrate the story of the Karenni people and show the importance of keeping traditional knowledge and practices alive in their culture. It also hopes to challenge the stigma often surrounding traditional rituals and bring awareness to the role that colonization has played in the loss of traditional practices over time.

view the pdf:

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Erin Spence


Erin Spence

Erin Spence

  • Hometown: 
    Qualicum Beach, BC
  • UVic department of study: 
    Political Science
  • Internship host organization:
  • Country: 
    Japan
  • Internship duration: 
    May-August 2019

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Erin is a 4th year Political Science student completing an Honours degree with a concentration in comparative politics and government. Her undergraduate research has focused on public policy, voter behaviour, and political participation in Europe and Japan. Her passion is making government services and aid accessible and responsive to the needs of their citizens. Outside of the university, she enjoys swimming, volunteering at the UVic Food Bank, and learning new languages. As a program assistant at CITYNET Yokohama Project Office, she is excited to study how the organisation encourages a higher quality of life in municipalities and urban areas across Asia. 

capstone project

During my internship, my work with CityNet Yokohama Project Office focused on building strong, healthy, and resilient municipalities across the Asia-Pacific region. In both work and travel, I found that the theme of resilience and recovery was a crucial theme of my experiences in Japan. Throughout the summer, I used watercolour paintings and literature to document how I felt and reflect on my own character, my place in the world, and my contributions to the community. As such, I wanted my capstone to be something that I physically created, as an act of resilience and discipline in its own right. This capstone is a artistic and literary exploration of these themes in the medium of a "handbook" that examines the different ways in which resilience manifested in my placement.

view the pdf:

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Ainslee Arthurs


Ainslee Arthurs

Ainslee Arthurs

  • UVic department of study: 
    4th year Child and Youth Care
  • Host organization:
  • Country: 
    South Africa
  • Internship duration: 
    May-August 2018

more

Ainslee is a fourth-year Child and Youth Care Student at the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø, focusing her final practicum on international practice in South Africa. Bringing forth a holistic, strength-based perspective developed from her education, Ainslee is thrilled to be exploring her interest in social justice while working with Ukulapha, a collaborative grassroots organization that works with a township elementary school to improve learning and teaching conditions. She is so grateful for CAPI for providing her with this amazing opportunity to work with and learn from the people in Slangspruit.

capstone project

One of the most memorable days of my internship was June 16, South Africa’s national holiday, Youth Day. A day that came from tragedy but is now a commemoration that empowers youth of today. For my capstone project, I created a video that will walk you through Youth Day at Slangspruit Primary School. This included a march through the township, performances by the school’s dance team, and displays by an afterschool art program that I facilitated.  

Mikaela Chia


Mikaela Chia

Mikaela Chia

  • UVic department of study: 
    4th year Biology & Psychology major
  • Host organization:
  • Country: 
    India
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2018

more

Mikaela is a 4th year Biology & Psychology major, minoring in statistics. She has a keen interest in social justice and sustainable development work through an interdisciplinary lens. Her passion lies in people. Mikaela is always learning both from, and with others and is so looking forward to doing so with PRIA in India. In her spare time, she loves to hike, explore, and work alongside youth. Mikaela is so incredibly grateful to be a CAPI Intern and to have this wonderful opportunity to gain a better understanding of the intricacies of development work and participatory research.

capstone project

My Capstone project, Finding Voice, is a collaborative zine which attempts to showcase and explore individual voice embedded within a collective voice. How do we celebrate and acknowledge our unique differences, as well our intersections? Finding Voice strives to connect people through a creative mean, which opens a platform for expression that celebrates unique lived experiences in a safe space, while also identifying themes of similarity and running themes which bind us all together, even if just a little bit of humanity. Through this zine, my hope is to indirectly touch upon us vs them narratives and recognize strength within both independence and interdependence. It features submissions from 17+ individuals across different geographical locations, languages, and beliefs responding to the question: “how do you find voice?”.

view the pdf:

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Emily Clare


Ainslee Arthurs

Emily Clare

  • UVic department of study: 
    4th year Child and Youth Care
  • Host organization:
  • Country: 
    South Africa
  • Internship duration: 
    May-August 2018

more

Emily Clare is a fourth-year student in the Child and Youth Care program at the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø. In May, she is going to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa to work at Ukulapha. Ukulapha, which means “healing” in Zulu, is a community outreach organization that works with the Slangspruit Elementary school. Emily will assist in teaching English and leadership, and will facilitate day camps when school is out of session. She is looking forward to her internship as she is passionate about building positive, strength-based relationships with children and youth, and is excited about visiting the birth country of her parents.

capstone project

My capstone project is a video about the camps I facilitated for the girls of the township school in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The camps were geared towards girls aged 9-13, and focused on building self-esteem and leadership, and learning about puberty. The camps were incredibly successful, and I could not have been happier with the results. The girls left camp feeling strong, independent, and beautiful, knowing that they were not alone in the challenges and changes they were experiencing. This video captures the impact of camp and the fun that we had together.

Jacob Derksen


Jacob Derksen

Jacob Derksen

  • UVic department of study: 
    Anthropology undergraduate
  • Host organization:
  • Country: 
    Indonesia
  • Internship duration: 
    June-December 2018

more

Jacob is an Anthropology student at the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø. Originally from Nanaimo BC, he loves Vancouver Island and is happy to be going to Indonesia, a country with many amazing islands to explore and learn about. He is interested in the relationship between culture and politics, as well as urban planning, and ethnographic research. Jacob is very excited about the opportunity to work with the Centre for Indonesian Policy Studies in Jakarta and looks forward to learning more about the process of policy making and analysis. He is very grateful to CAPI for making this opportunity possible and is doing his best to learn Indonesian!

capstone project

Apart from Bali, Indonesia is not a huge tourist destination, and it can be a tricky place to live and travel in some respects – especially when it comes to finding information in English. However, once you get past the chaos you realize just how amazing this part of the world is – and after 7 months of craziness I can definitely say Indonesia my favourite place on Earth. My Capstone is a ‘living in Jakarta’ guide, with information that I uncovered, anywhere from translating decade old websites to just chatting with the guy selling chicken at the end of my street. I know this guide will help interns to CIPS after me, who I hope will use this information to enjoy their placement as much as I did.

View the pdf:

2018-capstone_jacob-derksen

Alanya Dhalla


Alanya Dhalla

Alanya Dhalla

  • UVic department of study: 
    3rd year Gender Studies and Environmental Studies
  • Host organization:
  • Country: 
    Thailand
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2018

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Alanya is a third-year student completing a double major in Gender Studies and Environmental Studies and a minor in Social Justice Studies. Through these interdisciplinary programs, she has developed a strong interest in the politics of migration, trafficking, and international human rights. In this internship, Alanya will be working with the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women at their International Secretariat located in Bangkok, Thailand. She is very excited for the opportunity to work with the GAATW team and is extremely thankful to both CAPI and GAATW for this unique opportunity to translate her passions into real world actions.  

capstone project

Throughout my time in Asia, I witnessed the importance of critical hope and the power of resilience. Working with topics such as climate change and human trafficking, it can be easy to get lost in negative narratives and forget all the positive initiatives occurring in the world. In order to transcend these common feelings of ‘doom’ and ‘helplessness’ that are active in today’s society, I wanted to use my capstone to highlight resilience and positive news. In order to accomplish this, I asked my cohort about their experiences of witnessing resilience as well as their personal strategies. I also complied positive news, quotes, pictures, etc. into a blog.

view the pdf:

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Clara Harding


Clara Harding

Clara Harding

  • UVic department of study: 
    4th year Anthropology
  • Host organization:
  • Country: 
    India
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2018

more

Clara is currently finishing up her BA in anthropology and she is very excited to be working with PRIA as a CAPI intern. Her interests are focused on medical anthropology and on understanding how structural forces shape people’s health and everyday realities, and she is keen to learn more about how participatory research methodologies are implemented from the ground up. Outside of school, Clara loves reading, cooking, swimming and being around animals. She is looking forward to discovering new interests while in India and can’t wait to start working with PRIA!

capstone project

For my capstone project, I put together a list of guidelines, based on my own experience, for doing research ethically as an international student or intern. Interns with PRIA have the opportunity to carry out our own research projects in India. As amazing as this was, I found myself constantly struggling with questions, hesitations and doubts about how to implement what I knew about research ethics in a completely different country and cultural context from which I had learned them. My hope for my capstone project is that it will help spark discussions around research ethics and guide future interns and students, in India and beyond, in doing research ethically.

view the pdf:

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Nick Harrison


Nick Harrison

Nick Harrison

  • UVic department of study: 
    4th year Political Science
  • Host organization: 
  • Country: 
    Thailand
  • Internship duration: 
    June-December 2018

more

Nick is a 4th year Political Science student at UVic with an interest in comparative politics, authoritarianism, and civil resistance. He will be heading to the Mae Hong Son Province of Thailand for 6 months to work as an intern at the Karenni Social Development Centre (KSDC) along the Thai-Myanmar border. Check out Nick’s blog to read about his experiences and reflections at KSDC!

capstone project

My Capstone project is called "The situation, the school, and the people".

There are four things that I hope my capstone will accomplish:

  1. it will give people a general idea of what has happened/is happening in Karenni state that caused the Karenni people to flee
  2. it will help people understand why the KSDC is such a valuable asset to the Karenni population living in the refugee camps around Ban Nai Soi
  3. it will give people a glimpse of what the students are like at the SDC and what their goals and aspirations are
  4. it will help people understand the tight knit nature of the SDC.

Courtenay Jacklin


Courtenay Jacklin

Courtenay Jacklin

  • UVic department of study: 
    2nd year UVic Law JD program
  • Host organization: 
  • Country: 
    India
  • Internship duration: 
    May-August 2018

more

Courtenay is currently completing her second year of the JD program at the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø.  With an undergraduate degree in biology from Queen’s University, Courtenay hopes to explore questions of environmental law and policy during her legal studies.  As part of CAPI’s Crossing Borders Program, Courtenay will have the opportunity to work for The Other Media, an organization focused on environmental and social justice issues in Southeast India.  She is looking forward to engaging with their Community Environmental Monitoring Program, which uses environmental law to hold polluting companies responsible for any environmental degradation caused by their actions.

capstone project

Whenever I travel, I love to collect book recommendations. For my Capstone Project, I compiled a list of novels and short stories by Indian authors, as recommended by new friends, colleagues and neighbours in Chennai, India. For each story, I’ve included background information about the author, a short summary of the plot, and a bit of information about where the recommendation came from. I also canvassed the other CAPI interns in my cohort for recommendations, and received book suggestions from Malaysia, South Africa, Indonesia and Japan!

view the pdf:
cover page of Courtenay's capstone project

Rachel Lynch


Rachel Lynch

Rachel Lynch

  • UVic department of study: 
    graduate student, Economics
  • Host organization: 
  • Country: 
    Zambia
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2018

more

Rachel is graduate student in the Economics department at UVic. She has a particular interest in the impact of business and agricultural diversification on poverty reduction. In Southern Province, Zambia, Rachel works with SAM Project’s partner co-operative Lubemba. She assists farmers to begin and grow income-generating projects through a microfinancing program she co-founded in 2017. Rachel is also focused on improving the collection and use of data in program design, implementation, and evaluation of economic development projects.

capstone project

Knowledge is power. When it comes to diversifying income and trying to create a better life for one’s self, one’s children, and one’s community, education provides a foundation for lasting change. This workbook is an integral part of a workshop designed to teach about starting, running, and maintaining sustainable income-generating projects. The purpose of this specific course is to educate women on basic business and economic principles to improve the functionality and profitability of their group and individual businesses. The participatory, multi-lingual, and engaging nature of this course is meant to make it accessible to all women – regardless of level of formal education or experience in managing an enterprise. This workbook, along with an explanation and photographs of the workshop, make up my capstone project for my internship working with The SAM Project in Southern Province, Zambia.

view the pdf:
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Mackenzie Martin


Mackenzie Martin

Mackenzie Martin

  • UVic department of study: 
    4th year Anthropology
  • Host organization:
  • Country: 
    Malaysia
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2018

more

Mackenzie is thrilled to have the opportunity to be a CAPI intern at MSRI. Mackenzie is in her final year of a B.A. in Anthropology. Her academic interests center around medical anthropology, including migrant health, food security, and linguistic barriers to accessing health services. Her personal interests include cooking, environmental sustainability, and being in nature. Mackenzie is grateful for a placement at MSRI where she can learn about refugee support programs and forge new relationships. She is looking forward to exploring Malaysia and being challenged by a new work environment.

capstone project

My Capstone project is a blog that I built to showcase some of my work as an intern at MSRI (website design) and what I learned about food culture in Malaysia. My blog contains recipes and descriptions of traditional Malaysian dishes that I ate during my placement. Since I am plant-based I have adjusted the recipes to fit my preferences, while still highlighting the vibrant flavours and local produce that inspire each dish. My hope is that this blog encourages you to try Malaysian cuisine and inspires you to eat more plants!

visit

Christopher Tse


Christopher Tse

Christopher Tse

  • UVic department of study: 
    graduate student, Social Work
  • Host organization:
  • Country: 
    Malaysia
  • Internship duration: 
    May-November 2018

more

Christopher Tse is a graduate student in critical social work at the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø, with a focus on transnational migration and citizenship theory. Before coming back to school, Chris' background in anti-oppressive facilitation, international development, and social justice education led him worldwide to work alongside communities in organizing for social change. With a bachelor's degree in human rights journalism, Chris is passionate about telling stories and perhaps more importantly, dismantling the barriers that prevent people from telling their own stories. He is excited to work with and learn from the the MSRI team and is grateful to CAPI for the opportunity.

capstone project

In the spirit of participatory action research led by and conducted for a community, my capstone project was a program evaluation of MSRI's Emergency Support Program, which offers emergency financial aid to refugees/asylum-seekers in dire situations. Through my case work and conversations with colleagues and more importantly, clients, it became clear there were areas of potential growth where the program could really improve. The goal of this program evaluation was to gauge the program's overall effectiveness, identify determinants of financial insecurity among refugee communities in Kuala Lumpur, and consider implications for change that will ensure the program continues growing towards providing effective and anti-oppressive support for refugees and asylum-seekers.

View the pdf:

2018-capstone_christopher-tse_cover


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Lynn Ng Yu Ling

  • UVic department of study: 
    PhD student, Political Science
  • Home country:
    Singapore
  • Scholarship duration: 
    September 2018-April 2019

more

Lynn is a first year PhD student in the department of Political Science at the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø(UVic) in Canada. Previously she studied in England where she obtained a BA(Hons) in Geography and a MPhil in Development Studies.

Under the supervision of Dr Feng Xu, Lynn's research interest is in issues of Nationalism and migrant worker exclusion in the eldercare industry in Singapore, her home country. The eldercare industry in Canada, especially Vancouver, has a lot of similarities with that in Singapore. Most domestic and institutional care workers are foreign immigrants, especially from the Philippines, Indonesia, China and Myanmar among others. In Singapore, foreign workers face huge obstacles to social integration as they are not treated with mutual respect from wider society. State laws on immigration are also discriminatory in the way they imply national ownership over 'foreign' bodies, classifying and delineating immigrants in ways that do not do justice to human rights promises. My research endeavours to find a place for 'voices from the bottom', that is allowing care workers themselves to offer perspectives on what 'care' means, instead of the mainstream thinking of the '3Ds': dirty, dangerous, difficult. Participation would be a core aspect of interactions with my respondents, and I look forward to embarking on this self-reflective journey.

capstone project

My Capstone project Looking in from the Outside explores the experiences of international and indigenous students in Canadian society. Through mind-mapping and informal conversation, I gathered common themes in their experiences of marginalization and daily micro-aggressions. The original intention was to focus on the perspectives of international students, but in the course of this project the fee hikes for international students were approved. Considering that the UVic Board of Governors framed this move in a way that pitted indigenous and international students against each other, I felt it was important to also include indigenous voices to show that these two groups of students have more that they can mutually relate to than fight over. The way their contributions are presented reflect the preferences of my respondents. Overall, this project emphasises the theme of relationality and caring for others based on the simple fact that we exist as human beings, differences in habit and perception aside. As I hope to show, the maps drawn by my respondents reflect many concerns that are not as different as we might think.

View the pdf:

capstone project cover

Rachel Barr

Program designation:
QES Intern

Home department at UVic:
Gender Studies

Internship organization:
Society for Participatory Research in Asia, India

Abstract:
My capstone project is a story book, the story is about a girl who learns about body changes and menstruation from her grandmother. After spending a few months in India working with the gender team and working with youth, I decided to make a storybook with the youth that I was working alongside. The book is an attempt to try to dispel some of the stigma about menstruation. I worked with over fifty young women to create the book, I wrote the story and they did the art. Collaborating with the youth in this process taught me so much and I can’t wait to share it with you.  

Read Rachel's story "A Special Journey"

Marlin Beswetherick

Program designation:
QES Intern

Home department at UVic:
Anthropology

Internship organization:
Malaysian Social Research Institute, Malaysia

Abstract:
My Capstone is a project book that is designed to showcase the highlights of my work as an intern at the Malaysian Social Research Institute (MSRI) as well as promote MSRI itself. One of my main tasks as a MSRI and CAPI intern was the development of engaged social media platform; helping MSRI reach out to wider audiences. I was very fortunate to be able to help out in this way as I was given the opportunity to truly understand the organization and the impact it has on so many lives. Using the skills that I learned while in Malaysia, this book is a story of my 6 months with MSRI and CAPI.

View Marlin's "Media Activism" report

Chad Boissy

Program designation:
QES Intern

Home department at UVic:
Civil Engineering

Internship organization:
African Institute of Mathematical Sciences School Enrichment Center (AIMSSEC), South Africa

Abstract:
My capstone project focused on providing a handful of homeless people in the streets of Muizenberg, South Africa, their favourite meal. Using a budget of 100 dollars, I asked a few people I walked by daily what their favourite meal was, and the following day surprised them with the meal they had mentioned. My inspiration for this initiative came from a night out when complete strangers picked up my tab from restaurant in Victoria. Their generosity made my night to say the least, and I was eager to pay it forward ever since.

Read Chad's blog post

Will Howling

Program designation:
QES Intern

Home department at UVic:
Gustavson School of Business (Commerce)

Internship organization:
Society for Participatory Research in Asia, India

Abstract:
I faced many different challenges or difficulties during my internship in India. Based on my experiences, my goal for my capstone project is to help equip future interns to face some of these difficulties or challenges during their own placements. What I decided to produce is a workbook that accompanies the experience of being a student intern. The workbook is a tool that encourages active and critical reflection of different parts of the internship experience - whether it's international experiential learning generally, how to share the experience with others, your expectations/assumptions/positionality, or any other part of the experience.

Will's capstone project on his challenges interning in India

Sasha Mosky

Program designation:
QES Intern

Home department at UVic:
Environmental Studies, Geography

Internship organization:
Society for Participatory Research in Asia, India

Abstract:
My capstone project is an ethno-botanical plant press which details how people use plants in everyday life. For this project I collected plants that people use for cooking, medicine, and ceremony, dried them, and displayed them visually. The goal of this project is to challenge some of the narratives around India being polluted and people not respecting their environment by showing how people use and interact with nature in urban settings. 

See Sasha's plant pressings

Luc Nadeau

Program designation:
QES Intern

Home department at UVic:
Political Science, Philosophy

Internship organization:
Malaysian Social Research Institute, Malaysia

Abstract:
For my capstone project I decided to make a food map of the Ampang Point area. Having spent so much time in this relatively small geographical area, I wanted to create a piece of interactive media that could reflect my experiences and memories of this space. Moreover, as a Victoria native who has spent most of my life in the capital regional district of lower Vancouver Island, I wanted to document my first extensive learned familiarity of a new living space, namely Ampang Point of Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is a vibrant and dynamic city in a state of near constant renewal given the rapidity of demographic shifts and infrastructure development. When I return, as I hope to do one day, this map will serve as a compass of sorts, giving me a chance to retrace my past steps while simultaneously reflecting on this evolving cityscape. On another note, this map is meant to be a living document insofar as it will be made available to future interns should they be interested in contributing to its growth. While the focus of the map is eating or "makan" in the Malay language, an aspect of great cultural significance in Malaysia, I have included other points of interest as well, and others are invited to do the same. Makan Makan! 

Visit Luc's 

Seema Prasad

Program designation:
QES Intern

Home department at UVic:
Anthropology

Internship organization:
Malaysian Social Research Institute, Malaysia

Abstract:
My Capstone project is a document outlining the importance of community engagement during an intern’s six-month placement overseas. Engaging with the community further than within an intern’s work placement can be extremely rewarding in terms of making friends, gaining knowledge, and creating a memorable experience. This document is part of the CAPI Intern Handbook that is reviewed in depth during the pre-departure training process. It outlines how past interns have engaged with their community and lists some resources that future interns might find useful.

View Seema's "Community Engagement" report

Loreen Regnander

Program designation:
QES Intern

Home department at UVic:
Geography, Environmental Studies

Internship organization:
Society for Participatory Research in Asia, India

Abstract:
During my 6 months in India, I worked with and alongside rural villages in the state of Chhattisgarh assessing the various social and environmental impacts that a recent government initiative, the Swachh Bharat Mission, has had on these communities. I lived and worked in Raipur, Chhattisgarh where I was able to meet with and engage with various communities, government officials and NGO’s to discuss the future of this initiative. However, when conducting this research, I found there were still many barriers and boundaries that were difficult to overcome in such short periods of time; especially being a woman and wanting to interview women. These challenges inspired me to think of new ways of engagement and resulted in a pretty powerful realization which not only helped me to overcome these barriers, but also inspired change at the organization I was working with.

Watch Loreen's documentary short about silicosis among mine workers in Delhi

Duncan Chalmers

Program designation:
President's beyond borders fund intern

Home department at UVic:
Anthropology

Internship organization:
Karenni Social Development Centre, Thailand

Abstract:

My capstone is a project about sound, place, identity, and community among Karenni refugees in Ban Nai Soi, Thailand. It is, by nature, a soundscape project, and attempts to bring to light the central role that sound plays in the processes of placemaking. The collection of sounds you will find here are taken from my time as an intern at the Karenni Social Development Center, a community-based education organization for young Karenni refugees along the Thai-Burma border. ​ 

Community is important. These are the sounds of community. Have a listen on Duncan's

Su Yen Chong

Program designation:
QES Incoming Scholar

Country of origin:
Malaysia

Program of study at UVic:
Art History and Visual Studies (MA program)

Abstract:
My Capstone project focuses on garments and its ability to convey visual messages to the wearer and also people around the wearer. Through interviews, I asked three questions revolving around this theme. The purpose of this project is to apply fashion theories through the questions asked and examine the range of answers for commonality and variation. As I am compiling the video interviews, it struck me that individual preference plays a large role in choosing attires but the encoded message within an article of clothing or style as a whole, whether by conscious or unconscious decision, is present in every instance. This project has honed my perception on visual communications in my everyday life, making seemingly inconsequential details apparent.

Watch Su Yen's  on Vimeo

Ngozi Nwoko

Program designation:
QES Incoming Scholar

Country of origin:
Nigeria

Program of study at UVic:
Law

Abstract:
My capstone project uses video clips of some hip-hop musicians in Nigeria, relevant pictures, and descriptive texts to show how Afro-hip-hop music is being used as an agency for socio-economic and political activism, sensitization, and mobilization. Specifically, it conveys the idea of the potency of music as a tool of resistance to the oppression, marginalization, and environmental destruction of the oil producing communities in Nigeria. It uses the video and pictures to show the contents of the amnesty offer by the Nigerian federal government to the Niger Delta militants, the disposition and narrative of the government and how music is being used to re-historicize the Niger Delta question.

Alexandra Lloyd

Program designation:
QES Outgoing Scholar

Home department at UVic:
Anthropology (MA program)

Destination country:
Australia

Abstract:
From April to July of 2017, I was in Melbourne, Australia conducting fieldwork for my Master's thesis in Anthropology. My research explores the relationship between gender, sexuality, and migration. Specifically, my research investigates sexuality as it is lived and experienced by unmarried, female Indonesian international students living and studying in Melbourne. My research looks at issues surrounding society and the surveillance of female sexuality, gender inequality, and women's agency in the transnational context. For my Capstone, Alexandra has created a website as a platform for showcasing her research findings and the experiences of her respondents. It is my hope that this website will breathe life into her research and highlight the uniquely human experiences of gender and sexuality. Further, it is my hope that this website, and my research more broadly, will serve as a resource and an avenue for advocating for women's autonomy and rights (gender equality) in a global context.

Link to current draft version: 

Christina Service

Program designation:
QES Outgoing Scholar

Home department at UVic:
Geography (PhD program)

Destination country:
New Zealand

Abstract:
For my capstone project I will present my research results from my time at the University of Otago in New Zealand to the Kitasoo/ Xai’xais First Nation in community of Klemtu. During my presentation I will be able to share my analysis results from data collected in collaboration with the Kitasoo/Xai'xais (2012-2017), which have immediate management implications for Spirit bear conservation. Additionally, I will also tie in my broader observations of the indigenous conservation context of New Zealand compared to coastal British Columbia.

Taiwo Afolabi – Canada

Incoming Crossing Borders Scholar

·¬ÇÑÉçÇø, Applied Theatre

Abstract:

Storytelling Theatre: an educational workshop

Theatre is culture driven, and people-oriented. It is an effective tool for achieving different purposes in the society, hence applied theatre. As an art form, it focuses on building community, and strengthening relationships through storytelling for social transformation. Thus, this workshop introduced the youth group at Victoria Immigration, and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) to theatre interactive techniques, and games to tell stories, and facilitate participation, and build community. Furthermore, the workshop kicked off a creative/ theatre awareness project, and built an atmosphere needed for creativity, and dramatic experience for refugee community theatre project that we will be presented on the 20th June 2017 at Antechamber room/Council Victoria in celebrating  World Refugee Day. The workshop fostered cultural cohesion, and integration among the newly arrived Syrian refugee youths and other immigrants from other countries in Victoria. The workshop was held on the 5th October 2016 at the Pearkes Arena (behind Tillicum Mall) - 3100 Tillicum Rd - in the Flipside Lounge.

Jesse Baltutis - South Africa

Outgoing Crossing Borders Scholar

South Africa

Abstract: 

Jesse conducted an activity on water with 18 youth ranging in age from 7 to 14 attending the FUN Society summer camp during their themed 'water week.’ In this activity, Jesse lead a group of kids in exploring global water issues, contextualizing it within the South African and Canadian context. Jesse and the students discussed their favourite memories of water was, what role water plays in their lives and its importance. Water was then discussed in a more global context informed by Jesse’s time in South Africa. This included how different parts of the world have different amounts of water, different access opportunities, and how water is critical to a healthy life, both for humans and animals. Jesse then did an activity to illustrate how scarce fresh water is on earth. The visuals helped them to see how finite fresh water is, how important it is to protect water, and students discussed what we could do in our every day lives to save water. After the discussion, they played a version of capture the flag, called 'capture the water' to build more positive memories centred around water.



Zachary Brabazon - Bangladesh

Crossing Borders Intern

Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, Bangladesh

Abstract: Zach created and coloured a picture-book that seeks to do two things. First, Zach channels the educational experience of working with RMMRU by including a statistical/factual overview of the role of labour migration in Bangladesh's economy. Second, Zach explores their own experiences of Bengal by interspersing portraits and landscapes among the figures.

Crayon Renderings

Kenda Chang-Swanson - India

Crossing Borders Intern

Society for Participatory Research in Asia, India

Abstract: 

Kenda’s capstone project emerges out of a relationship with their friend and co-worker at PRIA. They are working together to share their voices and thoughts through a collaborative book. This includes short written pieces/reflections as well as visuals/photos to pull apart some issues, particularly examining gender, gender-based violence, and women’s experiences of public space and other experiences and issues. Pulling together their voices with their own respective experiences as a Canadian and an Indian woman, this book acts as a personal reflective opportunity to also dive into some of the current issues we see existing in the world today.

Place, Belonging and Home(s)

Kimberly Copeland - Malaysia

Crossing Borders Intern

Malaysian Social Research, Malaysia

Abstract: Kimberly prepared a joint capstone project with Danae Zachari

For our UVic CAPI capstone project, we digitized fourteen Malaysian Social Research Institute publications in order to make them available online to students, scholars and the wider public. Currently, thirteen of these publications are available at the McPherson library for UVIC students, faculty and staff, as well as for the wider community.  Our objective is to bridge MSRI, UVIC CAPI, and the UVIC McPherson library in the form of an open and collaborative research database approach framework. We wanted to organize, categorize and create an online library and research database using MSRI research, articles, and publications. Until our capstone efforts, these materials (some over 40 years old) were never available online. 

 There are dozens of MSRI publications - research, journals, art galleries, and personal narratives - that MSRI has physical copies of; however, the majority of these articles are out of print and unavailable to the public. We started our library bridge project because we realized that there is a keen interest in South East Asian politics; migration and refugee movement; and the Middle East amongst Uvic students and course subjects. We wish to open up and share these amazing works with MSRI staff, clients, and the school as well as the UVic McPherson Library.

MSRI Publications available online at the McPherson library:
Bosnia: Testament to War Crimes
Chinese New Villages in Malaya – A Community Study  
In the Time of Mishmish
Islam Embedded Volume 1
Islam Embedded Volume 2
Islamic Law
Nine Saints of Java
On Becoming Alijah
On the Way to Exile
Palestinians Speak – I Painted the Snow Black… because we’re afraid of the days
The Propagation of Islam
The Real Cry of Syed Shaykh al-Hady

MSRI Publications now available in-print at the McPherson Library:
Chinese New Villages

Janice Dowson - South Africa

Outgoing Crossing Borders Scholar

South Africa

Abstract: 

Janice’s Capstone project is a booklet that tells the stories of four women they met who are all working to overcome the gender inequality in South Africa. It is the story of their lives, interspersed with information about the South African Women’s movement pre-and-post-apartheid, the Commission for Gender Equality and the ongoing struggle for gender equality. The role of women in the struggle for liberation is often overlooked, as is their place in fighting for gender equality during the years of the negotiated settlement. Further, despite making gains for gender equality protections in the negotiated settlement, gender inequality and gender based violence remains high. Janice aims to show with their Capstone how everyday instances of women’s resistance do remain, even though many argue that the women’s movement collapsed in favour of institutionalized approaches to achieving gender equality.  

Women in South Africa: Strength, Resistance, and Resolve

Bhiamie Eckford-Williamson – Canada

Incoming Crossing Borders Scholar

·¬ÇÑÉçÇø, Canada

Abstract: 

Bhiamie facilitated a ‘Sharing Circle’ activity with students from Yunesit’in ?Esgul to hear the perspectives and ideas from children in the Yunesit’in community about how they connect with their land and language. This Sharing Circle is designed to engage students on the topics of land and language. It will seek students’ ideas and perspectives on their relationship to their homelands and how they feel about learning their Native language (Tsilhqot’in).  This project is designed as a ‘two-way’ learning exercise between Bhiamie and the students. This project fulfils a vital component of the research; incorporating Yunesit’in children’s perspectives in the research. It is also a key component for the ongoing reflection and project design for the researcher. As a University research project designed using Indigenous research methodologies, Reciprocal Appropriation is a fundamental requirement. Reciprocal Appropriation in this context means the equal sharing and benefit of a project to be shared between the researcher and community partners. As part of this project Bhiamie will be providing art and craft supplies, which will be given to the school (an identified need) following the activity. This project also supports the identified goals of the language program already in place at Yunesit’in ?Esgul. This project consists of two parts:

  1. Sharing Circle discussing how students feel about learning their Native Language
  2. Creative art project where students will draw a facet of the land (animals / hunting / fishing / rivers / mountains etc.) and connect this with their language

This project was completed on Thursday November 24 at Yunesit’in ?Esgul. This project has been designed in collaboration with Chief Russell Myers-Ross and JoAnne Moiese, Principal Yunesit’in ?Esgul. Permission slips have been drafted and approved by all parties involved.

Claire Horwood - Malaysia

Crossing Borders Intern

Malaysian Social Research, Malaysia 

Abstract: 

Claire developed a curriculum for MSRI’s “Everyday English” class to improve access to practical English language classes for the adult refugee population and to create a user-friendly pre-packaged lesson plan for inexperienced teachers and volunteers. At the time this project idea was developed, there was a high demand among MSRI’s refugee populations for practical English language courses directed towards basic/beginner learners using a variety of educational tools and multimedia. Many refugees need to be able to communicate in basic English to meet their daily needs, given potential relocation to English speaking countries and the fact that English is a common language spoken in Malaysia. Others want to learn English because it is often a requirement to find work. Claire sought to design a solution for this existing problem (the need for more practical English language training that could benefit a larger number of refugees) within the organization, by applying the principles of experiential and project-based learning. The PDF here shows a few examples from some of Claire’s lesson plans.

Grocery Store Bingo

Elena Lopez -Malaysia

Outgoing Crossing Borders Scholar

Malaysia

Abstract: 

Elena’s Capstone project is an interactive online game, created in an attempt to share her fieldwork experiences with migrant construction workers in Malaysia. Using textual strategies, Elena tried to blur the distinction between the periphery (Global South) and the center (the West). Through gamification, Elena attempted to subvert the typical representation of migrant workers as victims; you play as a migrant worker, with autonomy and control over decision-making. At the same time, the game is meant to give some sense of the confines of the exploitative system that migrant workers must work within. All of the in-game events are based on reports from migrant construction workers and interviews with union employees, and the game is purposefully monotonous punctuated with agitation to reflect Elena’s fieldwork observations.

Charli Mohammed - Singapore

Outgoing Crossing Borders Scholar

Singapore

Abstract: 

In 2016, Charlene went to Singapore to conduct her fieldwork for her Master’s thesis in Anthropology. Charlene’s research explored the food security and living experiences of Indonesian domestic workers who live and work in Singapore. For her Capstone project, Charlene created a website to showcase some of her results, and to describe both her participants’ and her own experiences during her fieldwork. This website brings the participants’ stories to life to the reader, and acts as an avenue to advocate for the fair treatment of foreign domestic workers.

Sidney Moss - India

Crossing Borders Intern

Society for Participatory Research in Asia, India

Abstract: Sidney collected recipes throughout their time in India so that they could put together a cookbook/photo journal as their final project. Sidney became fascinated with the role that food plays in connecting people. They also enjoyed the photography aspect of it, and the challenges that come with accurately representing culture, food, people, and moments through still images. 

A Taste of India

Jeanique Tucker - Canada

Incoming Borders Scolar

·¬ÇÑÉçÇø, Canada

Abstract: 

Jeanique has put together a film series that seeks to unpack political violence and the varied way communities, and specifically artists respond.  This is aligned with their Ideafest presentation where Jeanique looked at how visual artist responded to a specific incidence of violence in Jamaica.  This film series, instead, takes a broader look at political violence in the global south (with a focus on the themes/thinkers grounding my own research).

The films are:

Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony (2002) - South Africa (film on music as resistance)
Trench Town: The Forgotten Land (2007) - Jamaica (film on music as resistance)
Favela Rising (2005) - Brazil (film on music as resistance)
The Battle of Algiers (1966) - Algeria/France (theoretical starting point for my research)

Joel Toorenburgh - Bangladesh

Crossing Borders Intern

Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, Bangladesh

Abstract: 

Joel’s Capstone project is focused on the Bangla language. Due to its history, Bangladesh now derives a significant part of its identity from the Bangla language - much like other regions of the world that had to fight to protect their right to speak and live in their mother language (think of Québec, Catalonia and many other regions). In fact, the UN dedicated International Mother Language Day to a day in Dhaka when students protested in defense of the Bangla language, but were violently attacked taking the lives of two among them. Joel’s experience in Dhaka taught him the value of knowing the local language. It was a basic, but vital tool used to connect with locals. For this reason, Joel has compiled some of the most basic Bangla words and phrases. It helps to summarize and solidify what Joel learnt, and could help prepare someone who is about to set off into Bangladesh.

Decoding Bangla

Danae Zachari - Malaysia

Crossing Borders Intern

Malaysian Social Research Institute, Malaysia

Abstract: Danae prepared a joint capstone project with Kimberley Copeland

For our UVic CAPI capstone project, we digitized fourteen Malaysian Social Research Institute publications in order to make them available online to students, scholars and the wider public. Currently, thirteen of these publications are available at the McPherson library for UVIC students, faculty and staff, as well as for the wider community.  Our objective is to bridge MSRI, UVIC CAPI, and the UVIC McPherson library in the form of an open and collaborative research database approach framework. We wanted to organize, categorize and create an online library and research database using MSRI research, articles, and publications. Until our capstone efforts, these materials (some over 40 years old) were never available online. 

 There are dozens of MSRI publications - research, journals, art galleries, and personal narratives - that MSRI has physical copies of; however, the majority of these articles are out of print and unavailable to the public. We started our library bridge project because we realized that there is a keen interest in South East Asian politics; migration and refugee movement; and the Middle East amongst Uvic students and course subjects. We wish to open up and share these amazing works with MSRI staff, clients, and the school as well as the UVic McPherson Library.

MSRI Publications available online at the McPherson library:
Bosnia: Testament to War Crimes
Chinese New Villages in Malaya – A Community Study  
In the Time of Mishmish
Islam Embedded Volume 1
Islam Embedded Volume 2
Islamic Law
Nine Saints of Java
On Becoming Alijah
On the Way to Exile
Palestinians Speak – I Painted the Snow Black… because we’re afraid of the days
The Propagation of Islam
The Real Cry of Syed Shaykh al-Hady

MSRI Publications now available in-print at the McPherson Library:
Chinese New Villages

Taiwo Afolabi – Canada

Incoming Crossing Borders Scholar

·¬ÇÑÉçÇø, Applied Theatre

Abstract:  Understanding the complexities of global refugee and migrant movements can be overwhelming—especially when we don’t have a clearly defined way to actively engage with the issues and individual experiences. Following a short performance, interactive Applied Theatre and Theatre for Development techniques supported meaningful dialogue that engaged the community in deeper understanding and moves us toward action on 8 March 2016.

Tabitha Black-Lock – Bangladesh

Crossing Borders Intern

Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, Bangladesh

Abstract: This website shares information collected while the author participated in a 6 month internship based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.  This information includes  a culmination of personal experience, observations and general research which touches on issues of health and environment in Bangladesh.  

Siobhan Davis – Malaysia

Crossing Borders Intern

Malaysian Social Research, Malaysia

Abstract: Newcomers often face challenges adapting to their new environments - this Capstone project aims to illustrate how food and social gatherings can support refugee resettlement and integration processes by fostering friendships and community building.

Community Dinners

Yasmine El-Hamamsy – Malaysia

Crossing Borders Intern

Malaysian Social Research, Malaysia

Abstract: The importance of teamwork, sport, activity and fun can often go forgotten in discussions of migration and asylum-seeking. Over the past month, I've had the pleasure and privileged of coaching the first girls football team for the Sahabat Support Centre School. Through some photos and words from the players, my capstone focuses on these students and the creation of a team regardless of legal status, governmental policies, or language.

Soccer Stories

Can Giannotti – Bangladesh

Crossing Borders Intern

BRAC Migration Program, Bangladesh

Abstract: For my Capstone Project I created an informal magazine or a 'zine' containing various articles reflecting upon experiences I had while in Bangladesh and India. These articles ranged from the commodification of yoga, the influence of online dating applications on Indian arranged marriages, and the urban landscape of Mumbai. It was through the creation of this publication, I was able to present my South Asian experiences in a creative and informative manner.

Kip Jorgensen – Bangladesh

Crossing Borders Intern

BRAC Migration Program, Bangladesh

Abstract: The Differing Nature of Dhaka - This capstone project explores the unique and complex urban political ecology of Bangladesh's capital city, Dhaka. With an emphasis on primary research and multimedia, each chapter considers different sites of socio-ecological interaction, examining the role of power in a megacity and amid accelerating environmental change.

Michelle Maillet – Nepal

Crossing Borders Intern

Migrant Centre, Nepal

Abstract: My capstone project is an exploration of local perspectives on migration for foreign employment in Nepal in a post disaster context. I chose the Sindhupalchowk district which has an increasing trend of migration and is arguably the most affected region by the earthquake, to conduct interviews with local people to understand how they think the earthquake will or has effected migration for foreign employment in their community. Over a period of one week, I engaged in seven interviews which took place in four different villages in close proximity to Chautara, the district capital. Five of the interviews were with individuals and two of them became group discussions, one of which had up to nine participants. Throughout the week I witnessed two dominant trends of migration stemming from three different kinds of communities with different levels of engagement in foreign employment migration. The most prevalent of the 2 dominant trends, as described by the Sindhupalchowk residents, was an increase in migration for foreign employment as a result of increased need and vulnerability without a means to locally rectify such needs. Please visit my website to learn more!

Roxanne Power – India

Crossing Borders Intern

Society for Participatory Research in Asia, India

Abstract: My capstone project is intended to showcase voices, perspectives, and learnings under the issue of violence against women from my internship in India, via UVic's Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives, and the Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA). By using a dynamic platform, I hope further expressions surrounding the broader theme of inclusive safety, spaces, and access can be shared in an engaging way. Hopefully, such sharing will allow the conversation to build, and the stigma against speaking about violence against women to lessen, bit by bit.

Perry Watson – India

Crossing Borders Intern

Society for Participatory Research in Asia, India

Abstract: The purpose of my Capstone project is to evaluate what participation really means based on my own field exposure. There is no single definition that defines what participation looks like. If anything, after my internship abroad, I am even more confused by how we ought to quantify participation. There are many open-ended questions that come to mind when broaching the subject. I will be providing photos and insights from my time in India in order to, hopefully, add some context and nuance to my own thoughts and ideas about participation as I witnessed it during my placement abroad.

What is participation?

Bridget Woods – Malaysia

Crossing Borders Intern

Asia-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, Malaysia 

Abstract: Women’s rights are often discussed in relation to religious or cultural contexts. When discussed as a global phenomenon, critics often speak of a westernization of feminism and the women’s movement. I set out to explore questions of women’s rights with women from five countries across the Asia-Pacific region (Fiji, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Malaysia) to record perspectives and see whether areas of commonality could be discerned.