International Justice Mission, Manila
Sam Siew at the International Justice Mission office. |
Mabuhay! (or, 'may you live!' in Tagalog.) It's been just over a month since I arrived in Manila, Philippines on my IHRP internship with International Justice Mission. I am relishing this first-hand look into the workings of an NGO that works in the areas of anti-child sex trafficking, prosecution of child sexual abuse cases and advocacy for children in conflict with the law. The organization participates in not only advocacy and victim aftercare, but it also has a complement of lawyers that allows the organization to take on a sizeable caseload.
I am working in the area of children in conflict with the law, which covers juveniles who have been charged, convicted or are serving sentence for a crime. My days are consumed by a research project, which requires field work in the jails spread throughout the National Capital Region of Manila. I also recently had the privilege of assisting the lawyers in writing a motion on behalf of a client I encountered during field work. In addition, my graphic design skills are being tested as I develop our office's first monthly newsletter. The working environment here is a blast: I am no scholar of Filipino culture, but it seems to me that love is poured into everything they do. The enthusiasm is contagious, and I am learning a lot: how an NGO is run, what legal advocacy on behalf of the very poor is like, and how to produce professional work while not losing one's love of life.
Like my work, the free time that I have is similarly fast-paced. I am getting no respite from the sensory overload that is Manila, and I love every minute of it. A personal highlight are the varied modes of transportation, from the ubiquitous jeepney (built on a modified US army jeep chassis and covered bumper to fender with colorful graffiti-esque art) to the death-defying motorcycle taxis. I am told that the beaches are a must-see, hopefully I will be able to find enough time off work to visit one.
I am immensely grateful to the IHRP for giving me this amazing opportunity. I believe I will be able to bring a richer contribution to the law school community because of it.
