Pasantías – Internships
Contamos con pasantes nacionales que realizan un servicio social específico en alguna de nuestras áreas. Actualmente contamos con convenios con la Universidad Iberoamericana y la Universidad Autónoma de México.
Además, cada año la organización recibe un número amplio de pasantes de universidades norteamericanas tales como Columbia Law School, School of International and Public Affairs, Princeton University, University of Washington School of Law, London School of Economics, entre otras. La contribución de cada uno de los integrantes de nuestro equipo ha sido integral en los logros que hemos alcanzado en estos años.
Si estás interesada/o en realizar una pasantía o tu servicio social con ProDESC envía tu CV y una carta de intención sobre tu participación en ProDESC.
Envía estos documentos al: prodesc@prodesc.org.mx
We rely on interns who perform a social service in a specific area of focus. We currently have agreements with the University Iberoamericana and the Autonomous University of Mexico. In addition, each year the organization receives a large number of interns from American Universities such as Columbia Law School, School of international and Public affairs, Princeton University, University of Washington School of Law, London School of Economics, among others. The contribution of each intern has been integral in the accomplishments we have achieved in recent years.
If you are interested in pursuing an internship with the organization, or in completing your social service requirement send a cover letter, and an letter of intention to:
prodesc@prodesc.org.mx
Testimonios – Testimonies
Jamie Hayes – University of Chicago. 2.5 months
“ It was very valuable for me to see the differences in labor organizing in Mexico versus the U.S., specifically, to learn the differences in legal frameworks and workers’ rights between the two countries, and the resulting changes in strategies to improve and/or exercise these rights. In addition, ProDESC’s work to create a binational network of labor and immigrant rights organizing is incredibly dynamic and ground-breaking, as I currently organize Spanish-speaking immigrant workers in the U.S. I see the importance of multinational movements.”
”I was able, in a short time, to participate in a variety of projects: to research the result of cases at the Junta Laboral in the Janitors for Justice Campaign; to visit the mining workers union meetings in Mezcala, Guerrero, who were creating and upholding an independent and transparent union; to study and help develop indicators of state enforcement with regard to the rights of Wal-Mart workers. The range of experiences, which include policy and legal research; labor rights education workshops; worker organizing; grant writing; and binational collaboration was invaluable.”
What are you doing now?
“Labor rights organizing at a worker’s center in Chicago, called Arise. We are a membership based organization, and mount direct action campaigns to improve workers’ rights and health and safety in the workplace, and to fight wage theft and discrimination.”
Jose Alberto Balcazar Damian – Universidad Iberoamericana. 6 meses.
”El poder ayudar aunque haya sido poco en mi camino por ProDESC me hizo entender lo importante que es ayudar y preocuparse por la sociedad y el planeta en general.”
“Fue una experiencia enriquecedora que me ayudo a conocerme a mi mismo. Me ayudo a aplicar mis conocimientos tanto en lo profesional como en lo personal.”
¿Que estas haciendo ahora?
“Ahora estoy en un nuevo proyecto en una empresa que se llama Merck (quimico-farmacéutico) entrenando durante 2 años para convertirme en un Gerente Jr. de Negocio”
Chris Benoit – University of Washington, School of Law
”ProDESC provided me a strategic framework to assess human rights violations on several axes. The unique concept of “defensa integral” helped me to understand human rights through the context of strategic interdisciplinary action with a focus on community power”
“I helped work on integral defense of communities facing transnational non-outsourceable industries that violate their human rights. I worked closely with communities, with advocates from both the US and Mexico, and with stakeholders from across the spectrum.”
What are you doing now?
“I am currently working with Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project in El Paso/Cd Juarez working as legal director of the border office.”
Benjamin Locke – Columbia University – 1 year
“My internship with ProDESC launched my career as a human rights advocate. During my internship I worked as an investigator on two labor rights campaigns. I also had the chance to help out with human rights trainings and coalition work.”
What are you doing now?
“I just graduated from New York University School of Law and I am working as a Law Fellow at United Autoworkers.”
Kelly A. Burns, University of California, Santa Barbara. 6 months
“ I came to ProDESC as part of a required internship for a masters program in Global and International Studies at UC Santa Barbara. I wrote my masters project based upon the work I did at ProDESC. The project was entitled, ‘Leveraging Consumer Demand and Government Policy to Improve Working Conditions in the Fields of Mexico”
“I had an incredible experience with proDESC. The organization is an inspirational model for civil society organizations. My experience interning with ProDESC not only shaped my academic achievements but also my professional development. The staff was incredibly inclusive and open. I felt like I was not just an intern but a part of the team. The work was also very exciting. I had the opportunity to spend time in the field interviewing workers and going to very valuable trainings and workshops. I am very thankful for my experience with ProDESC.”
What are you doing now?
“After my internship at ProDESC I finished my masters degree. The program was a semi professional masters for people wanting to work for non governmental organizations. My experience at ProDESC greatly informed my studies. After graduating, I continued to work professionally in the labor movement in the U.S. I was an organizer and elected leader for UAW 2865 and then worked with UAW 5810. I am now looking for a job.”
Victor Campos. Universidad Iberoamericana.
“ProDESC fue una gran experiencia para mí porque me permitió desarrollar habilidades como comunicólogo y ponerlas al servicio de los grupos más vulnerables de nuestro país. La experiencia de servir en ProDESC representó un reto muy enriquecedor en mi vida profesional y personal. ”
¿Que estas haciendo ahora?
“Actualmente trabajo en Social Media en una agencia de comunicación”
Stephanie Delgado-Garcia. Harvard. 8 months.
“My experience at ProDESC helped me achieve my professional and educational goals by exposing me to a variety of new things. I was able to learn about the Mexican legal system, the structural problems within this system and understand important issues in my area of focus from a completely new vantage point. This experience opened my eyes to a completely new way of seeing the world and the way things work, thus broadening my understanding of the legal profession and the world itself.”
What are you doing now?
“I am now attending law school at Cornell.”
Alana Roth. Fordham University, Law School. 5 months.
“Substantively, I learned about the conditions of workers in various regions around Mexico. I gained a greater understanding of Mexican constitutional law and of international human rights law. I learned about the U.S. worker center model, which I researched and analyzed so that a similar model may be implemented in Mexico.
I also gained research and writing skills. I improved my Spanish language and translation skills. While helping to organize the presentation of the bi-national labor justice manual, I gained experience in organizing and publicizing public interest events.”
“It was the first time I had worked at a legal organization outside of the United States. The work environment was incredibly warm, energetic and conducive to productivity. The most memorable element of my internship at ProDESC was observing and participating in human rights workshops, which ProDESC staff members organized for mine workers. The workers were incredibly responsive and participatory. It was inspiring to work with such passionate and dedicated people.”
What are you doing now?
“I am beginning my final year of law school at Fordham University School of Law. I plan to take for bar exam in the summer of 2012. Since, interning at ProDESC, I have worked for organizations promoting workers’ rights of low wage immigrant clients and representing non-citizens in deportation proceedings.”
Iker Lekuona 5 meses – University of Chicago. 5 months
“La experiencia resultó de una importancia capital. Entre las muchísimas cosas que aprendí resaltaría una: aprender tácticas y estrategias sobre cómo hacer valer y realizar los derechos humanos desde el empoderamiento comunitario, la incidencia política y mediática, la investigación corporativa y la vinculación estratégica con el sector empresarial. Mediante el ejemplo de compromiso, profesionalismo e inventiva de las compañeras y compañeros de ProDESC di forma definitiva a mi vocación en pos de la justicia social. Mi tiempo en ProDESC resultó uno de las experiencias laborales más fértiles de mi vida. Es una organización perfecta para gente comprometida con la transformación social desde el empoderamiento de los de abajo.”
¿Qué estás haciendo ahora?
“Soy Coordinador de Investiagación de PODER, una organización que se dedica a la rendición de cuentas empresarial y que es una de los aliados más fuertes de ProDESC.”
Sarah Coxon – London School of Economics
“My internship at ProDESC was a great learning experience, which
enabled me to take my next step in the field of human rights. The
practical understanding and first-hand view I gained through this
experience allowed me to see how the theories I learned about during
my master’s degree worked in practice. Focusing on business and human
rights was particularly interesting to me; it allowed me to gauge the
utility of various international initiatives ‘on the ground’ and
directly informed my current views and career choices. On a practical
level, the size of ProDESC coupled with the willingness of the people
who run it to challenge interns with new learning opportunities meant
that I was also able to better understand some of the different
aspects of running an NGO.”
