Over the summer I got the opportunity to work at the Maldivian Embassy in Brussels.

I spent most of my time working on reporting EU and Maldives relations specifically through documenting the benefits being presented by EU-employed connectivity strategies such as the Global Gateway. 

I also worked with some of my dad’s coworkers in planning events. Maldivian Independence Day fell during my month-long internship on July 26th. In preparing for this event I was to help and support any people giving speeches, order food from the building caterers and send out invites to the community. 

During the internship I worked with a few other people my age, most of them were introduced to the intern program externally and were college students who studied international affairs.

The experience helped me understand how to operate under a diplomatic mission and introduced me to things I didn’t even consider such as community event planning. Initially, I did not realize the amount of communication required to get things done in such a working environment, this taught me how to operate very professionally which I am aware is a skill I lack. The collaboration and communication skills which I learnt during my internship may be applied and developed in my current academic career.

Overall, the experience was quite instructional and during the month I worked there I was taught and accommodated with various aspects of diplomacy. 

International relations and diplomacy are fields which I am interested in and hope to pursue in the future. Belgium being the EU capital presented various educational benefits as I learned much about policy making and strategies. 

 

Learning Outcomes: 

• LO1:  Identify your own strengths and develop areas for personal growth.
• LO4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.
• LO6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.