Throughout my time at Fondation Scelles, I have been working with the sensitive issues of prostitution and sex buying, which often involve various forms of exploitation and violations of human rights. Given this topic of research and my role in the organization, it is important to have a sense of empathy and attentiveness, especially when engaging with survivor testimonies or interviews with advocates. Active listening in a professional environment is a transferable skill that I have been shaping since joining this non-profit. Each day, I take the time to reflect on conversations and respond thoughtfully to demonstrate compassion through my work. This skill is essential across all fields, but I would argue that it is particularly important when working in a small non-profit organization, especially one that supports victims of abuse. Listening requires all of your attention, and enables you to set aside any inherent judgements by entirely focusing on what is being said in the moment. Many people, including myself, go through life passively listening to those around us, and I have not always recognized the value of this skill to its fullest extent. My experience so far has allowed me to practice my active listening skills, and has proven that we learn more from listening than we do from speaking.
In addition to this, I have also learned how to be more resourceful, as non-profit organizations typically operate with limited resources and restricted connections. In this field, adaptability is essential, and it is important to find solutions with what you are given. By navigating my way through uncertain situations, I have become more flexible and better equipped to manage unpredictable environments. Priorities can often change, and it is important that I am able to take on different responsibilities depending on immediate needs. I have to be able to quickly assess the problem and pivot when necessary, without relying on ideal situations. This is a skill that has proven highly useful not only in a professional context, but also in my personal life more broadly.
Moreover, I have also developed technical research and data analysis skills through this internship. I have never held a position in which research is my primary responsibility, and it has strengthened my ability to collect information and cross check multiple sources efficiently. When analyzing interview transcripts and survivor testimonies, I am able to apply these skills and identify recurring patterns that emerge from various publications and reports. Furthermore, I can connect my findings to the existing legislation in place and compare the legal frameworks across countries. My role at Fondation Scelles is to draft a comparative study regarding the implementation of the Nordic Equality Model, thus these analytical skills are essential when reviewing international policies and interviewing advocates at a global level. It is particularly interesting to observe the differences in how the governments adopt this approach in terms of which groups they choose to target and how they distinguish certain intervention strategies. This not only reveals which initiatives are proving effective in practice, but also highlights the relevance of specific vulnerabilities within each country and how they are being supported through this.
By researching policy on an international scale, I have improved my knowledge of global competency in navigating cross cultural contexts. I have gained a greater appreciation for cultural humility, and strengthening my intercultural sensitivity each day. When addressing complex subjects and especially sensitive information, I approach my findings with an open mind and avoid assumptions so that I can better understand local perspectives. Cultural awareness has proven to be extremely useful when navigating cross-cultural situations, and it is important to recognize that social issues and communication styles are going to look different across countries.
Through the skills I have acquired, and continue to develop in my professional role, I have deepened my understanding of the global justice system and how international institutions operate. The combination of both transferable and technical skills will better prepare me to work in more diverse environments in the future. I am gaining valuable insight through this international setting, and I am confident that these competencies will assist me in any future role I find myself in. By applying these skills in practice on a daily basis, I am continuously improving my abilities.
