Youth Voices at LIFT
By Yotin, LIFT's Media and Communications Intern
Mikaela's Journey with LIFT
Meet Mikaela, one of the vibrant voices among LIFT’s interns. Her passion for human rights has driven her commitment to fortify LIFT’s mission and its core pillars as our legal intern. As she reflects back on her journey embarked at LIFT, Mikaela’s story encapsulates the spirit of unwavering resilience, and determination.
As a law student from New Zealand, Mikaela was looking for opportunities to put her degree to practical use and kindle her interest in human rights law.
Drawn by Thailand's reputation for its efforts in combating human trafficking, LIFT provided a gateway to experience the complexities and challenges of such crimes.
“When the opportunity got presented to me, I took it straight away, it’s 100% something I wanted to do.”
“You don’t really know what you’ll be doing everyday. It’s pretty much a mix of everything”
In her two-month internship, Mikaela has been working on the front-line, assisting with an array of hands-on-tasks, from accompanying attorneys and law enforcement officers, interacting with scores of survivors, assisting with case management and research, preparing motions to attending court hearings. In the midst of these tasks, one project stood out as particularly memorable. It involved a collaborative project with an international school to educate young children on human rights, and children’s rights. “They were very curious and passionate about their rights, asking philosophical questions, which was truly inspiring to witness.” Through working with the children, she was able to merge her legal skills and her passion for advocacy in a new light.
This act of resilience echoes throughout the testimonies of the Survivors that Mikaela worked closely with. She recounts a case introduced to her that involved the sexual exploitation of young boy victims. “They acted like normal children, carrying around the cheekiest smiles with dreams and hopes for their future, despite their past experiences.” Their perseverance has inspired Mikaela to “live life to the fullest, have gratitude, and find the positives in times of negativity.” These are life long lessons that we can all learn from. LIFT’s legal team's assistance in the nurturing of the resilience of the survivors, is a process that's truly inspiring to Mikaela.
Working on the frontline is often a double-edged sword. While fulfilling, as Mikaela accounts, the victim-centered nature of the work frequently exposes her to firsthand accounts of trauma, an experience that may bear a heavy toll on the emotional well-being of some individuals. But with the support of the LIFT team, Mikaela was able to learn from her experiences, grow as an individual and build her emotional and mental resilience.
“ It’s inspiring to see how LIFT’s legal team strategizes towards a victim-centered approach to ensure justice is met with dignity”
The children often struggle to articulate their testimonies during court proceedings due to their lack of access to proper education, often hindering the scope of their understanding and articulation. The team's strategy addresses these disparities by crafting concise questions with the police, preparing the survivors to give evidence in court and, most importantly, by providing continuous support to the children, ensuring trust and a place of safety throughout the prosecution process. These stories of resilience are a broader testament to the reciprocal nature of growth, as the LIFT team and the victims gain invaluable insights from one another throughout the process.
After her internship, Mikaela plans to continue advocating for marginalized and vulnerable groups. Through her time at LIFT, she has gained a particular interest in children’s rights. Mikaela hopes to amplify their voices and bring them to the forefront of policy and decision-making to ensure their protection and care. Her ambitions extend to include the empowerment of children themselves to not only understand but also practice and assert their rights independently.
Although her journey in law and human rights continues, LIFT and their work has left a profound and positive mark on Mikaela. She extends her gratitude to the team, and their commitment to LIFT’s mission, noting that her internship experience has not only fostered a “deeper appreciation for the work carried out by LIFT, but those working within the broader fight against anti-trafficking."
The answers are from an activity teaching young children about Children’s Rghts.
