Lessons in Discrimination Abroad

International internship broadens minds while crossing borders

November 6, 2007

Elizabeth Stokely, left, and Hannah Bortman learned and taught about discrimination while studying in Spain.

While studying at Dickinson's program in Málaga, seniors Hannah Bortman and Elizabeth Stokely interned for Movement against Intolerance, a Spain-based non-governmental organization (NGO) whose mission is countering the racial intolerance, xenophobia and urban violence that has accompanied the increasing numbers of immigrants into Europe during the last few years.

"Working for an NGO was something that I was considering for post-graduate, so getting to see the different workings [of an NGO] was a great opportunity," said Bortman, a women's studies major. "I also wanted to work there because preventing and stopping discrimination is a topic that interests me personally."

Youths teaching youths

"As interns, we got to see a lot of different aspects of the actions Movement against Intolerance takes in order to advocate against discrimination," Bortman said. During their stay they had an opportunity to travel to schools in small, rural towns in Spain where they interacted with students from diverse backgrounds. The students also helped to organize activities and participated in workshops aimed at teaching public- and private-school students, ages 9-16, about discrimination.

"I learned that teaching children with disciplinary issues as a foreigner can be extremely challenging since they question your authority as soon as you speak and they notice you have an accent," said Stokely, an international-studies major.

While interning, Bortman and Stokely attended an international conference of NGOs from Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the U.S. The groups shared many common objectives, like the prevention of racial discrimination, as well as the targeting of specific forms of intolerance such as sexism, homophobia and anti-Semitism.

Outside the comfort zone

Bortman and Stokely played a key communications role at the conference as well.

"Elizabeth and I translated from English to Spanish for a couple of the presentations that were given at this conference," said Bortman. It was a hands-on experience for the two interns whose duties included the translating of the Movement for Intolerance Web site from English to Spanish. The extensive site includes editorials, news, interviews and books written on different incidences of discrimination and intolerance throughout Spain.

But the experience was not without obstacles.

"This internship was one of the most challenging experiences of my life. Elizabeth and I were dealing with very sensitive topics, in challenging public environments, in a language that is not native to us," Bortman said. "It was discouraging at times, because there were days when I felt like I wasn't having enough of an impact. Luckily, though, there were a lot of days when I felt that I was really able to connect with individual students or co-workers, and to be effective and positive."

Stokely said, "Overall, the experience taught me so much about the culture of public schools in Spain and the social issues that certain organizations like Movement against Intolerance are attempting to address. The internship was an extremely valuable experience."

"It forced me to spend a lot of time outside of my comfort zone, and I feel like I've really grown as a result of the experience. The internship taught me the importance of pushing yourself, of stepping outside your comfort zone, and in the end I wouldn't trade the experience for anything," Bortman added.

Andrew Williams '08