Loreto College

Online Internship with IBVM/CJ NGO 

The UN - MUN Cell of Loreto College, Kolkata, plays a pivotal role in fostering global awareness, leadership, and engagement with international institutions among students. As part of its structured initiatives, the Cell has established a regular practice of selecting and nominating two students each year, through a defined selection process, for an online internship with the IBVM/CJ  NGO, which holds a consultative status with the United Nations. This initiative forms an integral part of the Cell’s commitment to providing students with meaningful exposure to global governance and advocacy.

In August 2024, following this selection process, two students of Loreto College—Khakshan Jahan from the Department of Political Science and Mahika Roy Ghatak from the Department of Economics—were chosen to participate in this prestigious internship programme. The internship was conducted under the guidance of Sister Janet Palafox and Sister Sarah Rudolph, both serving as representatives to the United Nations at IBVM/CJ.

The internship commenced with an orientation session conducted by Sister Janet and Sister Sarah, where the interns were introduced to the functioning of the United Nations system and the advocacy work undertaken by IBVM/CJ. Throughout the programme, the interns attended weekly online meetings every Friday, collaborating with peers from across different countries. The internship continued over several months and was successfully completed in January 2026.

The initial phase of the internship involved contributing to a written statement for the Commission on Social Development. This required careful study of key UN documents, extraction of relevant content, and identification of gaps within existing frameworks. Mahika Roy Ghatak was particularly involved in the drafting process, collating responses from women across different countries gathered through questionnaires aimed at understanding grassroots-level challenges. She also undertook research to propose practical and context-sensitive solutions for inclusion in the draft statement.

Both students further contributed by researching country profiles, focusing on national policies related to women’s issues and compiling relevant UN data. This work strengthened the institute’s database and provided valuable comparative insights into global gender concerns.

In the later stages of the internship, the students were engaged in managing the organisation’s social media presence. They collaborated in creating content for Instagram, designing posts to raise awareness about significant events and international observances aligned with the institute’s advocacy objectives.

Overall, the internship proved to be an immensely enriching experience. It enabled the students to gain a deeper understanding of the United Nations system, the role of NGOs in international advocacy, and the importance of representing grassroots voices at global platforms. It also helped them develop essential skills in research, drafting, and collaboration, while contributing meaningfully to the work of IBVM/CJ.