Interning at TAHR

If you are reading this, you are considering interning at TAHR. This probably also
means that they consider you to be up to the task of being their future intern –
congratulations!

As my internship period is coming to an end, I have some thoughts
to share that will hopefully help you make the right decision, whatever it may be.
Perhaps the biggest question you are asking yourself right now is “Is my Mandarin
good enough for this?” To give you an idea, before coming to TAHR, I was taking a
C1 class at my home university, had under my belt an HSK5 and two semesters of
living in a Chinese-speaking environment. Nothing prepared me for this. I cannot
emphasise enough how linguistically challenged I have felt throughout this
experience, especially since one does not come across human rights related
vocabulary in class or in daily conversations. It is, therefore, essential to always be
kind to yourself and remember that you are here to learn.

That being said, what it takes to make this experience worthwhile is a conversational
level of Chinese, a bit of courage and humility, and a lot of curiosity. If you are able to
accept your limitations, allow yourself to make mistakes, and ask a lot of questions,
this will be an unforgettable journey worth taking. Surely, you may not necessarily be
able to take up all the tasks you would like to perform, but your colleagues at TAHR
will always accommodate you and provide missions within your capabilities. Feel
free to ask for help and voice your opinion and concerns as well as express what
skills you would like to develop and what issues you are passionate about. TAHR’s
life is extremely eventful and there is always something to do, so be proactive and do
not hesitate to seize every learning opportunity that comes your way.

TAHR unites human rights experts working on various issues and their vast partner
network will allow you to visit other local CSOs to get to know their work, which in
turn will give you a comprehensive understanding of the human rights landscape in
modern Taiwan. The association’s active participation in the political life of the
country will enable you to meet, hear from, and engage in discussions with affected
populations, local human rights advocates, government officials, and international
human rights experts.

I could go on, but it is supposed to be a one-pager. I hope this helps. And if you still
want to embrace this challenging yet rewarding experience, welcome to TAHR!
If you have more questions, do not hesitate to ask TAHR for my contact details.

Best of luck,
George
Summer 2026 Intern