By Arion Moore, Undergraduate student in the UT Government Department and Liberal Arts Honors Program

The time I have spent this summer in Skopje, North Macedonia has been an unforgettable experience that I will look back on with fond memories and invaluable lessons throughout the rest of my academic journey. As a Government major in the University of Texas at Austin Liberal Arts Honors program, the work I engaged in with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) aligned perfectly with my academic and professional pursuits and my desire to contribute to the promotion of democracy.

Across six weeks in Skopje, I worked with members of NDI and grew through the mentorship and guidance that they provided me with. During my time in the office, I researched and investigated municipal law in various countries to construct a comparative analysis paper. This report drew upon similarities and differences in countries’ laws to compile findings on the best practices for designing anti-corruption mechanisms at the local level. Getting to apply my knowledge and experience in political research while embracing the collaborative and supportive work environment I was in provided me with valuable insight into the challenges and strategies of anti-corruption work.

During this investigation and research, I got to work with NDI outside of the office as well to further enrich my time here and contribute to their democratization effort. I engaged in numerous caravans to different cities in North Macedonia, where we organized events for children to learn about their country’s Parliament. Kids who had just come over from school got to speak to members of Parliament and learn about issues impacting them. Speaking to the children in the country, meeting government representatives, and seeing the impact of democracy work in person rather than just in the office proved to be by far the most fulfilling and rewarding experience in my academic and professional career.

Throughout my time interning with NDI, one of the most valuable aspects of the experience had to be speaking with the many public officials and NGO workers that I met while learning about democracy work. Beyond my individual research in the office, coworkers went out of their way to organize trips to Parliament, other cities, and government offices to learn about municipal laws and best practices for achieving good governance.

I was able to enhance my research paper through an interview that I conducted with the mayor of a municipality in Skopje, who taught us about struggles and achievements in eliminating corruption. Additionally, we got to speak to multiple members of Parliament as a group to learn about their structure of government and the work that they did. Other meetings, such as one with the United States Embassy and an interview we attended to observe public opinion, allowed me to develop my understanding of government and municipal law far more than I ever would have just in an office.

The countless opportunities that I was presented with interning with NDI and the extent to which they went out of their way to help us make the most of our time there transcended professional courtesy. The interactions, connections made, and enrichment opportunities I was given through this internship ensured that the memories I have made here will last with me far beyond the summer.

Beyond the work I conducted for my internship, the city of Skopje proved to be an incredible place to live for six weeks, rich in culture, experiences, and people. The place I was staying was surrounded by at least ten different restaurants and cafes within five minutes’ walking distance. The food was delicious, and getting to know others living in the neighborhood was a deeply enjoyable time. The people within the community in Skopje were so welcoming, showing me kindness as I settled into a new country and going out of their way to make me feel at home.

In my freetime outside of work, I got to enjoy the culturally rich setting of a city filled with sites and opportunities within or just outside of town. I experienced so many idyllic trips during my time there that it is virtually impossible to choose a favorite. I will never forget the evenings that I would spend roaming the Old Bazaar, interacting with local people, and enjoying the countless delicacies that the place had to offer. I often think about the entire day I spent hiking through Vodno Mountain, a landscape that seemed to encompass every type of scenery that nature had to offer. I still debate with myself whether exploring the cave, lake, and trails of Mata Canyon was the best weekend excursion or if the crystal clear waters of Lake Ohrid were the highlight of my trip.

Even beyond the sites in the country, this internship provided me with opportunities to travel to Kosovo and tour its constitutional courts, and I was able to embark on a day trip to Greece, offered to me by someone I worked with in the office. 

Looking back on my time as an intern with NDI in Skopje, the guidance and support given to me by my colleagues made this by far the best experience in my academic career and one of the best times of my life. They did so much more than simply give us an assignment and provide assistance when needed. They constantly introduced us to public workers and NGO employees who enhanced my knowledge of and passion for democratic work. They consistently organized trips for us to engage in community outreach and on-site political advocacy. They were always available for me to talk to and discuss my project, offering any insight possible to expand my understanding of municipal law. Beyond this, the workplace I was a part of was constantly welcoming, kind, and inviting, providing suggestions for how best to spend my time in Skopje and organizing work lunches and other professional gatherings to make me feel like a part of a community. 

The support my colleagues showed me and the professional guidance with which I was provided made my time in this internship a pivotal six weeks of academic development and personal growth. I gained countless perspectives on political and government work, and I made so many connections, meeting numerous people that I will never forget. I developed my understanding of political science while gaining greater skills in both how to craft that knowledge into an effective report and how to apply it within a community while interacting with people in the municipality. I will carry the experiences I have had, the skills I have gained, and the lessons that I have learned into my future endeavors, and apply the time I have spent with NDI to further work in democratization.