Hannah Chi

“As the Programs Assistant, my role was to support the efforts of AP’s peace fellows abroad by providing research, creating learning modules, and writing training materials. Most specifically, I worked with our peace fellow in Nepal to curb the issue of child marriage and advocate for menstrual health management.

Since I had access to a wealth of knowledge from NGO’s in D.C., I spent a large part of my summer running frantically around the city trying to make it to my next meeting with a women’s rights expert. These experts were way smarter and more important than me, so it didn’t help that I always showed up a sweaty mess– (unlike Rachel, who only glistened even more radiantly after a lunch-time run.)

Since AP is just a one-room office, I would also take phones calls with women’s rights experts at the Starbucks down the street. This may not have been my brightest idea. One time, I remember passionately preaching about the need for menstrual health management in a quiet, yet completely full Starbucks… once I realized that I was attracting a lot of stares after saying the words “period” and “blood” and “uterus” over and over again… I had to move my conversation to a cafe table outside… where of course, I was welcomed with one of DC’s lovely thunderstorms. Though I’m sure I looked ridiculous, I know that there isn’t a single person at AP who wouldn’t preach about girl’s health rights, huddled under a green Starbucks umbrella knowing that your laptop will surely suffer water damage. Because that’s who we are at AP– we put others in front of us, and we put the agenda of human rights at the forefront.

As for fun facts about me? I am most known for eating all of Allegra’s muffins (who knew vegan muffins would be so delicious?), never using my advocacy.net email address, losing my “trousers” on our canoeing trip, and being incredibly passionate about women’s rights. “Reflecting back on my internship with AP, I think of the people. I had the pleasure of working with a dynamic team of interns who are all exceptionally bright, motivated, and passionate. I learned so much from each and every one of them, and they always gave me a good laugh.

In addition, having the opportunity to support the efforts of AP’s inspirational peace fellows and having Iain and Karen guide us through the internship was an incredibly unique experience. At a small nonprofit like AP, it is truly the people that make the organization what it is. The staff, intern team, and peace fellows fill AP with so much passion, love, and dedication, and it is the reason why The Advocacy Project makes such a tangible difference in promoting human rights around the world.”