Daryl Mifsud serves as OEP's Development Organizer intern. He reflects on On Earth Peace's impact in his life during his internship.

Why are you drawn/applied to On Earth Peace?

In the simplest way, I wanted to spend my time and energy working with an NGO that puts their values and mission first, before anything else. Apart from On Earth Peace strong philosophy and beliefs, I was really drawn to OEP as it is able to cover a plethora of issues that plague our societies, and do so in a manner which centers the individuals and communities which many times are effected or a part of struggle, and this speaks volumes to the quality and genuinity of work we're trying to achieve.

What are the favorite project/s that you worked on?

As the Development Organizer Intern, my favorite project I worked on so far was organizing the Program Participant Call-A-Thon. We have a lot of people that participate through various ways in our projects/programs/sessions, and in the past we didn't do as effective a job as keeping in touch with the participants. Part of the Call-A-Thon was rekindling a connection with them, receiving feedback and thoughts on programs they attended,  building stronger relationships with them, and in turn, moving program participants into donors so we can continue to expand and drive the work forward. Through it, I got to meet many people and listen to their experiences and stories, which in turn led me to know more about OEP and the impact they have had. 

How has OEP affected your outlook/future aspirations?

It offered me a really good understanding of what it takes to work in an NGO setting, and also what a healthy and productive relationship between peers and supervisors should look like. Through the Kingian Nonviolence sessions, I also learned a lot of ways to go about resistance, which has helped me in school given the subjects I am studying, being a Peace and Global Studies Major, and an African/African-American Studies Minor. OEP has also impacted me on the skills and knowledge necessary on how to go about organizing and collaborating with different organizations for the same goal. 

What would you like people to know about OEP and yourself?

I am an international student in the U.S from the island of Malta! I like listening to music, dancing, travelling, and engaging in high-spirited conversations on decolonization and anti-colonization practices and beliefs. An important factor for me which makes OEP the community a comfortable and empowering space, is the collective culture it radiates and camaraderie that OEP fosters; whenever I go into intern meetings it feels more of a break from my stressful day, and I'm able to converse, laugh, and be at ease with people whom I share very passionate and similar views with.