Jogorku Kenesh Internships

May 21, 2014

OSCE “Jogorku Kenesh Internships”

administered by American Councils for International Education ACTR/ACCELS

 

AUCA students are always eager to contribute to the success of their home countries. Over the last 3 years, AUCA students have been sharing their enthusiasm, hard work, and problem solving skills as interns within the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic in a program sponsored by the OSCE and implemented by American Councils. Forty Kyrgyz citizens studying at AUCA have taken part in the Parliamentary Internship Program so far and through that experience have contributed in substantial ways to the work of the government of Kyrgyzstan – researching and drafting legislation, assisting diplomatic delegations, and organizing international roundtables. Two program participants here share their experiences and impressions.

 

Raima Kalandarova is a senior student studying International and Business Law at the American University of Central Asia. Raima is also a 2008 alumna of the FLEX program. She is currently interning in the Scientific-Research Center of the Jogorku Kenesh.

 

1.     What motivated you to apply to this program?

It may sound naive but since high school I always had a dream to work in the national parliament. I was inspired by the history and spirit of the Jogorku Kenesh. I wished I could be involved in the law-making process. […] I believe I am lucky to have a chance to implement my ambitious dream in reality and gain necessary skills for my future career.

 

2.     What projects are you are currently engaged in at the Jogorku Kenesh?

I was chosen to intern at the Scientific-Research Center of the Jogorku Kenesh. The center conducts various research to aid the work of parliament. The office was established in 2014 in accordance with the Development Strategy of Jogorku Kenesh. The center includes a lab with internet and a library. The purpose of the center is to create conditions for Members of Parliament to freely access news, articles, and other necessary information.

At the center I am involved in two projects. First, I am assisting my supervisor to research on legal standards, particularly on gender equality. I had to study the experiences of states that apply gender equality in their draft laws. I considered Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Canada. The second activity that I am engaged in is the creation of an electronic library for the Jogorku Kenesh. My main duty is to scan books for the electronic library.

 

3.     What accomplishments have you had at your internship that you are proud of?

I made a deep and detailed research on mechanisms of gender equality. Based on the materials I read, I summarized other foreign states’ experiences. I provided my supervisor with all necessary information for his further analysis.

 

4.     What is the greatest challenge you have faced during your internship?

The conditions and atmosphere of the Scientific-Research Center are very convenient and friendly. I have had no conflicts with personnel or my supervisor. Indeed, everyone is kind and easy-going there. They are open for questions and do not ignore an intern’s viewpoints.

 

The center provides many places to work. There are 25 laptops with internet. I can choose any of them and start my research. In addition, it is quiet there. No one disturbs and interrupts.

 

5.     What is the most surprising thing you learned while participating in this program?

I was surprised while attending a parliamentary hearing. There were two ministers, deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh and representatives of NGOs from all regions of the Kyrgyz Republic making presentations. However, one vice-premier minister was absent. It was very surprising for me to observe how the head of the committee attacked the representative of the vice-premier minister for the minister’s absence. It seemed like there is a certain competition between parliament and government. There was a lack of mutual understanding.

 

6.     Has your idea of the Jogorku Kenesh changed since you started your internship? If yes, in what way?

I have now tried on the shoes of a representative of a Jogorku Kenesh office. Now I know that they try to carry out their duties properly. In particular, personnel of Scientific-Research Center operate and follow its objectives. My supervisor reads the results of my research and gives me feedback. The head of the center discusses further plans with his co-workers. They analyze their written works and discuss upcoming meetings.

Officers of the departments are concerned about their qualifications. People come to the lab and learn Kyrgyz language with special tutors. My colleagues attend English language courses and try to talk in English at work [with me].  

 

7.     Can you share an interesting story about your internship experience?

Due to the fact that the building of Jogorku Kenesh has three entrances (west, east and back entrance) it was very hard for me to remember the labyrinths of corridors. Sometimes I could enter from one side and find the exit from the completely opposite side. During one week I was roaming the corridors of the building. Once, I used an elevator and found myself on the wrong floor. I spend half an hour to find my way back to my work place. Since then I walk up and down the stairs with no elevator.

 

8.      In addition to interning, the program requires you to write a research paper focused on policy issues, what do you think you have learned from the process of writing a paper for a setting other than a university requirement?

At the university I am used to writing research papers. […] For a policy paper it is necessary to identify the issue, give its causes and provide evidence to reduce or eliminate it. The most important part of the policy paper is to bring strong arguments for the solution of a social problem.

 

9.     What do you think you have gotten out of this program that might help you in your future life and career?

I have gained theoretical, technical, and practical skills. While researching mechanisms of gender equality, I learned about the principles and procedures of draft law examinations. These activities are closely related to my specialization as a lawyer.  

Finally, I got acquainted with new people and set up professional relations with office personnel. It is important to build your social network in order to prosper and succeed in the future.

 

10.  Would you recommend this program to your peers?

I would highly encourage my peers to participate in the Jogorku Kenesh internship program. Those who have enough desire to achieve an effective start for their career should use this opportunity. There is always a chance for a student to reveal their personal and professional abilities [at the Jogorku Kenesh]. The efforts of interns are valued and appreciated by their supervisors. The internship gives a chance to observe from inside the actual work of Parliament. As a result, students benefit their own future and at the same time make real contributions to Parliament.  

 

Aigerim Baiazbekova is a senior at AUCA, majoring in International and Comparative Politics. Aigerim interned with the Parliamentary Internships Program April-June 2013 in the International Relations and Protocol Department.

 

1.     What motivated you to apply to this program?

I saw the announcement about this program on a university billboard and immediately thought that I should not miss such a great opportunity to enter the Jogorku Kenesh building and get to know the people there.

 

2.     What projects were you assigned at the Jogorku Kenesh?

I interned at the International Relations and Protocol Department. My main duties during the three-month internship were translating official reports, recommendations, letters; registering incoming and outgoing documents; delivering them to other departments and ministries; and answering phone calls. Special assignments included writing official letters in Kyrgyz and English languages, as well as analyzing the news about current events.

 

3.     What accomplishments did you have at your internship that you are proud of?

During my internship, I gained both interpersonal and technical skills.

Interpersonal: I developed my communication and leaderships skills. As one of my duties was to distribute documents, I got to know people from other departments of the Jogorku Kenesh and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also, when new interns came, I was assigned to tell them about the department and its responsibilities and thus I developed my leadership qualities.

Technical: I think I learned many skills -- such as translating documents and learning new diplomatic words. Moreover, my Kyrgyz language significantly improved as I was able to write letters and translate brief documents. The Deputy Head of the department always asked me about the news and wanted me to provide my own analyses of events.  Also, one of the experts taught me how to write company profiles, which are required to be brief, concise and in one page. When the department needed stationary, I started writing official requests, asking for fans, cartridges, and paper. In addition, before meetings, I was supposed to call Members of Parliament [to confirm their attendance]. I learned to be quick in my work and multi-task.

One of my main accomplishments during this internship is having translated all necessary documents for preparation of the Fourth Plenary Session of TURKPA [The Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries]. I translated more than seventy pages of documents.

Overall, this internship developed in me valuable skills, which are helpful for my future career path.

 

4.     What is the greatest challenge you faced during your internship?

I did not face any challenges working with colleagues from my department. People were nice and interesting.

 

 

5.     What is the most surprising thing you learned while participating in this program?

The most surprising thing was that all Members of Parliament and staff members clean up the environment on Saturdays once a month.

 

6.     Has your idea of the Jogorku Kenesh changed since you started your internship? If yes, in what way?

Before I thought that the public sector was easy to work in, however, now I realize that working in the Jogorku Kenesh is extremely difficult. Sometimes, my colleagues stayed at the office from morning till midnight. They were overloaded with the work that needed to be done. However, when you work in the public sector, I believe, one has the feeling that he/she is doing something, may it be big or small, to help the development of his/her country. Consequently, having completed my internship, I feel reassured that the public sector is the place where I am going to build my career. 

 

7.     Can you share an interesting story about your internship experience?

Once I was assigned to bring keys to the room of Mr. Asylbek Jeenbekov, Speaker of the Parliament. Firstly, I went to the security office and got permission to enter the seventh floor. Then I went upstairs and waited for a half an hour to enter the floor. Then I was required to go through security three times. Finally, when I was near the Speaker’s room, I was told to give the keys to another security officer, who would deliver them to Mr. Jeenbekov. Though I could not see the Speaker’s room, I was lucky to see the seventh floor.

 

8.      In addition to interning, the program requires you to write a research paper focused on policy issues, what do you think you learned from the process of writing a paper for a setting other than a university requirement?

 

Writing a research project was challenging for me. I have spent many hours working on it during last days. So I have learned very useful thing - doing everything in time. Though it might sound banal, I believe this habit will lead to greater success in everything.

 

9.      What do you think you have gotten out of this program that might help you in your future life and career?

This internship was very useful for my professional development. It raised in me a person, who wants to make changes in the political development of Kyrgyzstan. Now after knowing how the International Relations Department works in practice, I have more willingness to study in a Master’s Program abroad and come back to my home country with innovative ideas, promoting cooperation among the parliaments of various countries. My future career plan is to work in the public sector, specifically at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

10.  Would you recommend this program to your peers?

Yes, I would definitely recommend this internship to my university peers, because it can change their view on the work of politics and help to set up long-term professional goals. 

 

 

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