By Annie Manknell
My week of work experience at Rene Cassin was a truly insightful and enjoyable experience. The charity’s position as an organisation committed to the promotion and safeguarding of human rights means that it campaigns on globally important matters, from the protection of Human Rights here in the UK to raising awareness about the persecution of the Uyghur Muslim minority in China.
During my time there, I was able to delve into both current and past human rights abuses. I had the opportunity to write and research an article to spread awareness of human trafficking in the UK, and to find out about instances of forced labour in Nazi Germany, as well as the internment of Jewish people on Jersey and Guernsey during the Second World War. Through both this research and research on the Holocaust and Kindertransport, I had the opportunity to explore prevalent issues through the lens of a historical Jewish perspective. As a charity with a focus on raising awareness, rooted in Jewish values, I was provided with a valuable new perspective on global issues and their strong cultural connections to the Jewish experience.
I loved volunteering at Rene Cassin because everyone there was so friendly, welcoming and helpful. I felt supported and encouraged, and I left with a real admiration for the charity and their work, and with a reaffirmed sense of social responsibility, the importance of justice and of upholding modern-day human rights issues.
A highlight of my week was attending a House of Lords debate, which I enjoyed enormously, on the Borders Bill Amendments. This is directly related to my work on refugees and human trafficking, and I got to appreciate the vital influence that charities like Rene Cassin can have on legal and social issues.
Overall, I found what I was able to do for the charity both intellectually stimulating and politically relevant, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity of working with them.
Work Experience At Rene Cassin
If you’d like to carry out some work experience at Rene Cassin, email info@renecassin.org with your cv.
