Category: Internship

My name is Aliye Uysal and I am an Åland Islands Peace Institute’s research intern from September to December 2022. Currently, I am a Master’s student in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research at Åbo Akademi. In my studies I am interested in collective memory, identity and their relation to peace. During my internship I will participate in the e-course “Territorial Autonomy as a Tool for Diversity Management: Lessons from the Åland Example” and assist on various research-related tasks along with some tasks relating to the 30th anniversary of the institute. I am looking forward to learn more about the work here, at the Peace Institute.

My name is C. Viktoria Schnick and I am an Åland Islands Peace Insitute’s information intern from August to October 2022. Originally from Flensburg, Germany, I am currently pursuing my master’s studies in Global Politics and Communication at the University of Helsinki, Finland, with a personal research interest in memory studies. I am excited to learn more about the Åland Example and the institute’s work. During my internship, I will assist in various tasks relating to the upcoming 30-year anniversary of the institute.

Hello! My name is Eleonora Drugg and I am the new information intern at the Åland Peace Institute. I grew up in Pargas but live and study in Turku, Finland. I’m studying international law and human rights at Åbo Akademi but I am a person who likes to be creative and engage in tasks related to communication and media. I am looking forward to learning more about the work here at the Peace Institute and to learn more about communication-related tasks. 

Karolina Kraska Piñeyro is a creative graphic designer living in Mariehamn, Åland. Karolina graduated with a title of Master of Arts, specialization in graphic design. During her career she created eye-catching visual messages and brand identities that engage customers. She has worked with many different companies, start-ups and organizations in Finland, Åland, Poland and the USA. During the time at Åland’s Peace Institute she will help with daily design tasks and with creating an interactive map of the Åland example, while improving her Swedish language skills.

My name is Milene Bruhn, and I am an Åland Islands Peace Institute’s research intern from August to October 2021. Currently, I am a student in the master´s program Peace Research and International Relations at the University of Tübingen, Germany. In my studies, I am interested in the intersection between peace, democracy, and identity. During the internship, I will assist the creation of an interactive map of the Åland example in the world.

My name is Anna Jackson, and I moved to Åland from Great Britain to start a new chapter in my life. Before I moved here I worked for a charity that helped other charities, and spent my free time volunteering. I like to read and learn new things, and often find myself lost in Wikipedia or consumed by a good book till late in the evening. I often play video games, or listen to podcasts when I go walking in the forest. I am glad that I moved to this place, because even in these difficult times, this land feels content and at peace, which is a rare and valuable thing.

My name is Esther Djupsund and I am an intern at the Aland Islands Peace Institute from February to March 2021. I am currently studying the Master’s Degree Programme in International Law and Human Rights at Åbo Akademi University. In my studies I have focused on climate-related migration and intergovernmental conflicts. During my internship I will assist in the preparations for the digital version of the Kastelholm Talks as well as other media-related assignments. I will also assist the personnel whenever needed and when there is some sparetime I will work on finding and researching subjects my pro gradu-thesis. I consider this internship to be a fantastic opportunity for me to work together with people who have such a huge knowledge in the subject that I am interested in.

Tesfaye Ayalew Mekonen is doing a remote, digital internship at the Åland Islands Peace Institute from December 2020 to February 2021. He is originally from Ethiopia, but currently he is in Australia doing a Master of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Queensland. He holds a Master of Law (LL.M) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Laws (LL.B). In recent years he has been teaching public law at the College of Law, Debre Berhan University, as well as providing pro bono legal aid services for disadvantaged individuals. He has been legal advisor for a government office engaged in land administration and a legal intern in the African Union Commission. At the Peace Institute, he will work with issues of identity, conflict management and multilevel governance in the African context, contribute through writings and seminars and assist in the development of new digital materials on conflict resolution.

Jessica Gregory is doing her Swedish language internship at the Peace Institute from November to December. She is originally from North Carolina, the United States, and has her Masters in Mechanical Engineering from both Virginia Tech and Cornell University. In parallel with the internship she is teaching mathematics at Åland University of Applied Sciences. She came to Åland for the first time in 2014 to visit a colleague and subsequently met her current partner. Jessica is interested in macroeconomics and climate change as well as all forms of outdoor activities, such as sailing, gardening and frisbee golf.

My name is Vilma Kallio and I am a communications intern at the Åland Islands Peace Institute from October to December 2020. I study International Relations at the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi. In my studies I have focused on topics concerning the Arctic, Indigenous peoples and the EU as well as questions of security and peace. I am currently writing my Master’s thesis about the politics of reconciliation in Canada. During my internship I will assist with communication tasks such as updating the ÅIPI’s homepage, newsletters and social media as well as marketing the upcoming seminars and publications focusing on EU. I will also help with conferences and presentations as well as more research related tasks if needed. This internship gives me an opportunity to closely follow the Peace Instititute’s work related to peace and mediation and to better understand the different aspects concerning minorities and autonomy. In addition to gaining valuable working experience in communications and in Swedish-speaking environment, I hope to gain new insights for the Arctic context as well.