Natalie Cassidy

My arrival to MDAC came at a very exciting, if somewhat chaotic, time for the NGO.  MDAC had recently moved to their new office and they where reaching the end of what, I would later realise, was a very successful summer school, on the rights of persons with mental disabilities.  There was no time to feel awkward or nervous as I was immediately thrown into a meeting, where the rights of persons with mental disabilities were debated in incredible detail.  It was fascinating. To realise on my first day that I was going to be surrounded by such enthusiastic and intelligent individuals, for the next six weeks, was a great way to start my internship. Moreover, my participation was encouraged and my views where considered with the same respect as the other staff members.

Throughout this first week, I was fortunate to become involved in MDAC’s Summer Academy Mental Disability Law in Practice. I attended lectures, for example on the Right to Health and even participated in a moot court case, where I was able, along with two staff members, to play the role of a judge. 

As a politics student, with a keen interest in the role of NGOs within the political system, this internship offered me a great way to get a feel for how an international NGO operates and influences the legal and political decision making process.  My tasks set by Noemi Kiry Ambrus, the Operations Director, were both challenging and appropriate for a student like myself. 

The projects I contributed to during my time at MDAC, included research on developing a strategy for the dissemination of MDAC’s report on psychiatric institutions, in Croatia.  This included familiarising myself with the procedure for Croatia’s accession into the European Union.  For one of the legal officers at MDAC, I researched the monitoring of psychiatric institutions and care homes by international bodies, such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe.  I was also asked to provide relevant information on Members of the European Parliament and to think of approaches and questions MDAC could put forward to the MEPs.  Furthermore, the staff were very flexible and encouraging when I proposed an idea to do an information handout for staff members and future interns on the European Union.

I cannot stress enough what a perfect opportunity and enjoyable experience an internship at MDAC is.  The staff are really what make MDAC such a special place to work and I am confident they will go on to do more great things in the field of mental disability rights.  This experience has not only improved my knowledge on NGOs in general but I am now convinced to do a Masters in European Law, specialising in human rights, when I finish my Bachelor degree.

Natalie Cassidy

Intern at MDAC, Summer 2010