Pemma Lhazin’s Internship at the National Organization for Women (NOW)

Pemma Lhazin, a senior International Studies major at Endicott College, spent the Fall 2022 semester interning at the National Organization for Women (NOW), the grassroots arm of the women’s movement dedicated to a multi-strategy approach to women’s rights. Learn more about Pemma’s internship experience creating digital campaigns and being fully immersed in highly impactful human rights work.

Tell us about your internship experience.

I interned at the National Organization for Women. NOW is a women’s movement, dedicated to a multi-issue and multi-strategy approach to women’s rights, and is the largest organization of feminist grassroots activists in the United States. I was a digital media intern at NOW. I was proud to work on the “Love Your Body” social media campaign and to be a part of the Women's March Rally. It was a great experience to even just be a part of women supporting each other, but being there to take professional photos and create social media content was super exciting. On a daily basis, I worked on creating digital content on Canva which I would schedule to post on NOW’s social media.

My favorite part about interning was knowing that I was working towards a bigger vision. The media content I was creating all aligned with NOW's core issues that I deeply care about: constitutional equality, economic justice, ending violence against women, reproductive rights and LGBTQIA rights. I also loved feeling productive and getting ready to go to work. Doing this everyday made me so excited to graduate and begin my professional career! I was able to get a better understanding of what organizations are looking for and build strong connections with my co-workers!  

What was your favorite part about living in DC?

DC is such an amazing place- there’s always something to do and it’s a very accessible city. I loved walking around the city and exploring the free museums, outdoor concerts and multicultural events. DC is also the best place for networking. As someone interested in international affairs and human rights, DC was the best place to be. I attended a USAID Conference and was able to connect with so many people! Don't be scared to just go up and talk to someone, connect and network with them. I was really scared to do it in the beginning, but I wish I had connected with more people! 

Do you have any advice for future WII students?

Save the museums and indoor trips for when it gets colder, and make use of the warm weather, get outdoors and take advantage of all the free events! On a professional note, don’t compare your internship to your peers because we’re all unique, have different paths and have something to offer!