IRI Internship Projects Concludes

July 8, 2004

June 30 – IRI and its local partner organization, the Turkish Democracy Foundation (TDF), concluded their groundbreaking Capital Internship and Model Parliament project in Turkey. Throughout the month of June, IRI and TDF brought 93 youths from around the country to Ankara to serve political internships and participate in a parliamentary simulation – the first program of its kind in Turkey.

IRI created a website for the project that included an online application form. In all, over 300 applications were submitted, allowing IRI to be selective in choosing participants. A comprehensive training and orientation weekend was provided for all participants at the outset of the program, as well as weekly group workshops that brought the interns together with former and current Members of Parliament, academics, political party officials, and staff members from numerous government agencies.

The internships themselves took place in 18 institutions in Ankara including political party headquarters, government agencies, and with members of parliament. In their role as interns, the young participants conducted policy research, wrote relevant reports and articles, assisted supervisors at meetings, and performed a variety of administrative tasks, among many other jobs.

During the three-day Model Parliament at the end of the program, the participants simulated the proceedings of the Turkish Parliament. Model MPs drafted legislation in party group sessions, worked in committee, and debated the bills in plenary session, which was conducted in the actual parliament building.

While the project was a giant step in encouraging greater participation of Turkish youth in national politics, it also helped build the capacity of participating institutions for meaningful political mentoring.

###

A nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing democracy worldwide