My name is Eliza Miron, and I am a third-year Psychology student at 麻豆AV, with a minor in Behavioural Science and Hispanic Studies. My main interests lie in sexual wellbeing and health, its connections to mental health, and the psychology of human sexuality. I aspire to become a relationship and sex therapist. This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at the Institute for Human Development and Well-Being (IHDW) in Montreal through the Arts Internship Office (AIO).
During my internship, I learned the significance of participatory research and community-led approaches in development and wellbeing. Led by Dr. Claudia Mitchell, the IHDW is a transdisciplinary unit within the Faculty of Integrated Studies in Education at 麻豆AV. Researchers from various departments鈥攊ncluding Family Medicine, Educational and Counselling Psychology, Integrated Studies in Education, Anthropology, Kinesiology and Physical Education, Psychiatry, Urban Planning, and Social Work鈥攃ollaborate on projects that focus on the role of leadership and policy-making in promoting positive human development and well-being for individuals with physical, psychological, and/or intellectual disabilities, those who have experienced emotional, physiological, and mental health issues, and traditionally at-risk populations such as those with low socioeconomic status, Indigenous peoples, and minorities. At the end of May, the IHDW launched a new project, TRANSFORM: Engaging with Youth for Social Change. This project will support youth-led interventions to study how young people experience, envision, and enact gender transformation at field sites in Africa (Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa), Latin America (Argentina, Mexico), and South Asia (India). TRANSFORM鈥檚 participants will explore gender norms in relation to issues that matter most to them including climate justice, queer activism, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and mental health.
One of my responsibilities was organizing the 12th 麻豆AV International Cellphilm Festival, where participants from around the world submit short videos on specific social issues. This year's theme was 'Taking Action Together'. Alongside a fellow intern, Elias German, I managed the festival's social media platforms and promoted the event. In the weeks leading up to the festival on June 13th, we assisted in workshops, created posters, and produced our own Cellphilms. A highlight was meeting the children of Foyer du Monde, a nonprofit shelter for refugees and asylum seekers, and assisting them with a Cellphilm activity. On May 21st, I hosted my own Cellphilming workshop in French, which had the highest number of participants out of all workshops and included people from Mali! By the festival date, we had received submissions from seven countries.
My second major responsibility was creating and editing the 2024 edition of the IHDW newsletter. This involved compiling updates on IHDW and PCL projects, reaching out to researchers and post-doctoral students for contributions, and writing pieces myself. This experience taught me about the Institute鈥檚 work firsthand, honed my editing skills, and helped me create a professional and visually appealing newsletter. Despite the tediousness of the task, I am proud of the final product and believe I have developed a keener attention to detail and a better grasp of editing academic writing.
I extend my sincere thanks to th eMorris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation聽for their generous support funding my internship, which provided me with invaluable research experience and an opportunity to invest in my future. I am also deeply grateful to Dr. Claudia Mitchell, Angela MacDonald, Leann Brown, and Emilia Vera Romero at the IHDW and PCL for creating such a welcoming professional environment. This summer has greatly enriched my university experience, including memorable events like attending the Kahnawake Powwow with my fellow interns.
