[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/interns_JosephIngram.jpg” caption=”Pictured yesterday with Joeseph Ingram, from left, are students Jedrzej Chelminski, Vanessa Alexander, Chris McAllister, Farhad Pocha and Alan Teo. Photo credit: Rowena Muhic-Day”]When five students met distinguished McMaster alumni Joseph Ingram, special representative of the World Bank to the UN and the WTO, who was on campus yesterday to talk about the World Bank's good governance agenda, they were getting to know a future neighbour.

Ingram is based in Geneva, where the five, Vanessa Alexander (English and cultural studies) Jedrzej Chelminski (multimedia and economics), Farhad Pocha (philosophy), Chris McAllister and Alan Teo (both multimedia and communication studies) will soon be headed to begin year-long internships with aid organizations connected with the UN. They will be joined by Carmen Miranda (French and political science), bringing to a total of 14 the number of students placed on the Humanities Geneva Internship program over the past three years.

The students were chosen for their foreign language, communication and computer skills as well as their interest in human rights issues. Working with the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, which focuses on Fair Trade and HIV/AIDS awareness, the International Catholic Migration Commission, a UN-funded organization which helps migrants and displaced people, and Franciscans International, a human rights NGO with consultative status at the UN which works for the poor and disenfranchised around the world, they will have an unparalleled opportunity to experience first-hand issues affecting international aid and development organizations.