McMaster student spent a summer working her dream job

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BY Sarah Janes

March 17, 2016

Imagine spending your summer doing your dream job. That’s exactly what fourth year Economics and Political Science student Yasmen Abdelkhalek did.

Abdelkhalek’s journey to her dream job started when she was a student in Todd Alway’s course 3PR3, The Practice of Politics: Active citizenship in modern democracy, which included a work placement with local MPP Paul Miller.

Alway encouraged his students to apply for the Clarke Prizes in Advocacy and Active Citizenship, which reward distinguished political advocacy by McMaster students. Abdelkhalek and fellow student Karishma Sooknarine ended up winning the award and split the prize money.

That award, along with her experience working in an MPP’s office, motivated Abdelkhalek to apply for a summer job opening with United Nations in Kuwait over the summer.

She got it.

In her role as assistant to the Security Advisor, within the Department of Safety and Security, she was responsible for news scans, analyzing patterns in crime to determine trends over a daily, weekly and monthly basis, writing reports after a mosque was attacked by a suicide bomber. Day to day her responsibilities also included conducting news scans to highlight any international or local situations that could affect the safety and security of any UN personnel or asset either directly or indirectly.

“The internship with the UN was my first time having hands-on experience in the political world,” said Abdelkhalek.

She credits Todd Alway for giving her the placement with Miller and encouraging her to apply for the Clarke Award, as well as for putting her application on the radar of the UN hiring committee.

“People don’t realize their advocacy power. Working for the UN in Kuwait was an amazing experience and I’m glad I took the chance.”

At the end of the internship Abdelkhalek was given a reference letter as well as a certificate. They also offered her the opportunity to extend the internship virtually throughout the year in order to gain more experience, continue learning and contribute to the organization. 

The Clarke Award was established in 2014 by Ryan Clarke (class of ’88) and Leanne Clarke to reward distinguished advocacy demonstrated by students at McMaster University who are, or wish to, advocate for some type of meaningful social and/or political change. Deadline to register for competition is April 1, 2016.