Adam Parsons was the 2007 recipient of the peace and human security internship program with Project Ploughshares, an ecumenical peace centre of the Canadian Council of Churches and sponsored by the Presbyterian Church. A member of Gale, Elmira, Ont., Parsons was completing his Masters degree in international relations when he heard of the opportunity, and contacted Ploughshares immediately to find out more.
“I know many students who are trying to get on with this type of organization, and it's incredibly difficult to do,” Parsons told the Record. “And they've given me an amazing amount of responsibility.”
After immersing himself for the first two weeks in Ploughshares' resources and materials which informed him of the extensive and complicated work the agency does, Parsons was given “complete ownership” of a writing project that reports on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and is working on the preparations related to the conference where the paper will be presented. He has also been studying and reporting on Canada's obligations to the UN's program of action on small arms and light weapons.
“When I came into this I wondered, do organizations like Ploughshares really make a difference? And I've found out that yes, they do,” said Parsons. “They consult with government, and have a direct influence on public policy, and are great at community outreach and education. They make a considerable contribution to Canadian society.”
Upon finishing – his placement ends in May – Parsons hopes to find a job with an NGO that deals with peace and conflict studies.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2008 internship which begins in September and is located in Waterloo, Ont. It will be the second internship in a series of three. The series is made possible through undesignated bequests to the PCC. Applicants must be university graduates, and members or adherents of the PCC. The deadline for applications is May 16, and the eight-month term provides a $1,400 monthly stipend.
For more details, contact Stephen Allen at Justice Ministries at (416) 441-1111 x256 or sallen@presbyterian.ca. Visit www.ploughshares.ca to learn more about Project Ploughshares. Parsons said he would be happy to talk about his experiences with internship hopefuls. He can be reached at aparsons@ploughshares.ca. AM
