Sophie Pach

I could only do an internship at MDAC for about three weeks, but wish that time could have been made longer. From my first day of work everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming and I was given real work to do that I could immediately tell was useful. This is very different from some other internships I have heard of and even done, where you just mail things and make coffee. At MDAC you are immediately challenged and utilised, and I think the most rewarding part for me was seeing the work I was helping with immediately put into action.

I was involved with an advocacy project regarding the Venice Commission’s statement about the right of people with disabilities to vote. This seemed like a very important piece of work to contribute to, with short deadlines and clear aims. I started in late August and the Venice Commission meeting is already in October. During the three weeks I was working my supervisor, Gabor Halmai, went to New York to the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations and I helped prepare letters to give to the UN ambassadors there, as well as compiling information on the various Venice Commission members. Gabor gave me interesting tasks and made me feel like an important part of the project. Being involved in such a pertinent campaign that is so much at the heart of representing people with disabilities was exciting and rewarding.

I would also like to emphasise the very positive work environment at MDAC, where it seems like colleagues help one another and although everyone is highly motivated and hard working the overall atmosphere is still very friendly. I have learned a great deal about advocacy but more importantly about the various legal challenges persons with disabilities face and I am immensely grateful to MDAC for the experience.