Goodbye to our Interns and safe travels!

For the last 6 months we have been joined by Kaleigh and Jayrene, two interns from Northeastern University in Boston.  During their time with us we have put them to work properly, giving them opportunities to work across all of our services, attend meetings, meet representatives from criminal justice agencies and attend events.  There was no making tea or doing photocopies!  They have both now finished their internships and are heading home to see their families and sleep in their own beds.  We have loved having them here – here’s what they thought of us in two blog posts we forced them to write before they left…  We wish them all the best for their glowing futures!

Kaleigh’s Goodbye:

As my six-month internship at Victim Support NI comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone who not only made this internship possible but also made it such a positive and educational experience.  

During my time here, I’ve had the unique and incredible opportunity to work with Victims Support NI. During my internship, I assisted with VSNI’s response to the Department of Justice’s Call for Views on their new Victims and Witnesses Strategy and two separate consultations on the upcoming Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill and the Justice Bill. I provided support to victims and witnesses who appeared in the Crown and Magistrates’ courts to give evidence and assisted with VSNI’s Hate Crime Advocacy Services. In addition, I have also assisted victims of violent crime in applying for Criminal Injury Compensation, analyzed police reports, and collaborated with and learned from other community organizations and law enforcement agencies to enhance the experiences of victims and witnesses within the criminal justice system. Through VSNI, I also collaborated with organizations on advocacy efforts aimed at improving and ensuring more trauma-informed and victim-centered processes throughout Northern Ireland.  

I immensely enjoyed working with victims during focus groups for the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill. It was incredible to hear directly from victims about their needs and listen to their powerful stories. I was glad I was able to listen to their stories and help them use those experiences to make positive changes. I was also given the opportunity to visit other amazing organizations, such as Flourish NI, which works with victims of human trafficking. I was amazed at the organization and how much they provide to their clients, including education and employment opportunities, skills and language workshops, helping with housing needs, and providing support for psychological needs. As an international affairs and criminal justice student with a special interest in human trafficking prevention, Flourish offered such a unique perspective for me, being able to see how trauma-informed organizations help victims and their families.  

Through VSNI, I not only have learned and grown professionally, but I’ve also formed amazing friendships that will last a lifetime! While all my coworkers have been absolutely amazing, I developed a special bond with Jayrene and Luna, my fellow interns. Together, we toured Belfast, enjoyed drag shows at Maverick, lunches in the sun during the 11 days of beautiful Northern Ireland summer, and movie nights! When Luna left at the end of her internship to go to her home in Belgium, Jayrene and I were lucky enough to visit her at her home! She became our personal tour guide and translator while we explored Brussels and Antwerp. 

 Speaking of travel, being based in Belfast allowed me to explore Europe for the first time! I was able to visit beautiful places like Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, London, Paris, Belgium, and a few more! I definitely have a traveler’s spirit, so I could not give up the opportunity to travel as much as I could! It became a little joke in the office that every weekend, we would be somewhere new! One of my favorite trips was going to Manchester to see one of my favorite artists, Tyler the Creator! It was an absolutely amazing performance and an unforgettable night! 

I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet and work with individuals who are so dedicated to supporting victims and improving the justice system to better serve those affected by crime. Thank you all for your passion and commitment! 

I will miss Northern Ireland and Victim Support dearly!  

Jayrene’s goodbye blog:

After six months, my internship at Victim Support NI is coming to an end and I’m feeling incredibly grateful for the experience of working together with such an important charity that offers essential services for people affected by all types of crime. During my time as an Administrative and Practical Intern, I’ve had the opportunity to: 

• Visit Magistrate and Crown Courts while working with the Witness Service 

• Work on Criminal Injury Compensation appointments with clients 

• Attend events and workshops under the Hate Crime Advocacy Service 

• Work on different types of legislation and policies under the Policy and Comms Team 

While working in the different sections of Victim Support, I have also had the opportunity to meet and learn from partnering organizations such as Flourish NI, NIACRO, Women’s Aid Federation, The Rainbow Project NI, etc. Being able to witness and be a part of such an impactful community that looks out people in crisis who have no one else to turn to is one of the main reasons I am so grateful to have been a part of Victim Support. 

During my time at Victim Support NI, not only have I grown professionally with the organization, but also socially. I have had the pleasure of meeting some amazing people that I am fortunate enough to now call my friends; my fellow interns Kaleigh and Luna. We have had many opportunities to explore Belfast together by going out to local pubs and bars, such as Maverick’s and Boombox, travelling together by going to Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day, and even managing to visit each other! Since Luna’s time at Victim Support ended earlier, Kaleigh and I flew out to Belgium, where Luna is from, to visit her and spend a weekend with her and her family. She was kind enough to let us stay with her family while also being an amazing tour guide (and interpreter). She guided us around some of Belgium’s major cities such as Antwerp, Brussels, and Leuven. That trip gave us all the chance to connect with one another on a deeper level and secure this everlasting friendship. Now, we are planning a trip where Luna comes to America to visit Kaleigh and I in September! 

These last six months have been a dream in my eyes. I never thought I would have the chance to have such an incredible experience in a new country, but I can now safely say that I have no regrets. I would like to thank Northeastern University for allowing me to take part in the co-op internship process and I would like to thank Victim Support NI for taking a chance on me while allowing me to learn and grow with your organization for the last six months.