Press

20th February 2025

Latest successful applicant of the Charles Colvington Foundation shares his experiences from New York

 

The Charles Colvington Foundation is pleased to share the success of another recipient of the Charles Colvington Trust, Jonty Cope, who has completed a four month internship as a Programme Manager in New York.

 

Jonty Cope from Laxey was successful in his application as a UN intern as a Programme Manager in New York starting after his graduation in the summer of 2024. New York City is home to the headquarters of the United Nations and serves as the central hub for the UN's activities.

 

Jonty decided to apply for an internship in the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) after his studies at Durham University studying an MSc in Defence, Development and Diplomacy. In his application, Jonty said he hoped the internship would provide an opportunity to understand the complexities of humanitarian security of UN operations in challenging environments from an insider’s perspectives and selected the Programme Manager internship because of the experience it could give him in his future career. Based in New York, the UNDSS is responsible for providing safety and security services to all UN agencies and departments operating in over 131 countries. Working in the Division of Partnerships and Specialized Support, Jonty was able to experience the reality of working in the UNDSS and had the opportunity to work directly with the people who offer security expertise and support to enable the safe conduct of United Nations missions, activities, and programs across the world. 

 

 

Jonty said;“What stood out most during my time at UNDSS was the people. I was impressed by the daily drive, commitment, and focus on continuous learning exhibited by UNDSS staff. I was struck by the mutual respect extended to interns, which fostered an incredibly supportive and professional environment. The team’s dedication to their work and ability to inspire and mentor was a defining feature of my experience.”

 

By providing funding to support Manx students undertake United Nations internships, the Charles Colvington Foundation wants to give the opportunity for more young people to take advantage of educational and professional development in the United Nations Internship programme.

Chair of the Charles Colvington Foundation, Jennie Thompson said:

“It’s a privilege to be able to honour the wishes of Charles Colvington and his wife andsupport young Manx students wanting to take on a life changing experience at the United Nations through the Foundation and Trust set up for this purpose. We would encourage anyone with an interest in humanitarian affairs to consider the UN Internship Programme and to apply to the Charles Colvington Foundation for financial funding to help towards travel and accommodation costs.”

 

New York is only one of many locations across the world where the United Nations offers internships, and across a multitude of disciplines. Use the United Nations career site -https://careers.un.org/jobopening - and filter by Internship to see current opportunities in the following areas;

• Economic, Social and Development
• Information and Telecommunication Technology
• Internal Security and Safety
• Legal 
• Logistics, Transportation and Supply Chain
• Management and Administration
• Political, Peace and Humanitarian
• Public Information and Conference Management
• Science

 

For anyone interested in a United Nations internship, another one of our successful recipients, Finn Shimmin, has broken down the steps from researching opportunities,applying to the UN and the process of applying for funding through the Charles Colvington Foundation on his blog post here: http://www.charlescolvingtonfoundation.com/news

 

Applications for funding through the Charles Colvington Foundation are accepted 1st April to 31st May for internships starting August until December, and 1st October to 30th November for internships starting January until July.

 

Jonty ended the short report about his internship by saying;

“.. my time at the United Nations was like no other. It was a privilege to work alongside such inspiring individuals and to contribute, in even a small way, to the critical mission of protecting those who serve the world’s most vulnerable populations.”

 

To read about Jonty’s experience in full visit the news page on our website: 

Full report written by Jonty Cope: http://www.charlescolvingtonfoundation.com/news 

 

 

 

Photos (left) from Jonty Cope during his internship in New York, 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

25th September 2024 

First successful applicant of the Charles Colvington Foundation reflects on enriching experience with the UN in Bangkok 

The Charles Colvington Foundation is pleased to share the success of the first recipient of the Charles Colvington Trust, Finn Shimmin, who had the experience of a lifetime as a United Nations intern in Bangkok 

 

Finn Shimmin, an Economics graduate, has returned from a transformative six-month internship at the United Nations ESCAP in Bangkok.  Finn spent six months in Bangkok on a United Nations internship with the Space Application Section, Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division. His internship was part-funded by the Charles Colvington Trust, a bequest from Mr and Mrs Charles Colvington, set up in 2019, supporting post-graduate students from the Isle of Man to undertake an internship at the United Nations. 

 

Finn’s experience highlights the Colvington’s commitment to supporting Manx students pursuing international opportunities. He was the first recipient of funding since the Trust moved from being administered within the United Nations Association, Isle of Man to a standalone Foundation. Former Trustee and Chair of UNAIOM, Chris Thomas said: 

“I am delighted that funds from the generous bequest from Mr and Mrs Charles Colvington have been used to part fund Finn’s fulfilling opportunity. It’s gratifying to read that the Foundation is able to offer assistance for such a positive experience and I am confident that under the new structure, many more young people will be able to benefit from similar opportunities.”  

 

Through his internship, Finn was working in a global organisation but in a specialist area. He gained invaluable experience of learning the importance of pushing personal boundaries and challenging yourself. He said about his experience: “The highlight of my internship was undoubtedly the friendships I made. The opportunity to connect with talented individuals from around the world and immerse myself in a new culture was invaluable. It’s been a profound learning experience, both professionally and personally.” 

 

By providing funding to support UN internships, the Charles Colvington Foundation aims to support educational and professional development opportunities for Manx students. Finn said in support of these ideals;  

“The world of tomorrow will not be determined by climate accords, security councils, or trade agreements alone. It will be shaped by how well we understand and respect one another today, and how we pass on our knowledge of science, culture, and ethics for future generations to build upon.” 

For anyone interested in a United Intern internship, Finn has broken down the steps from researching opportunities, applying to the United Nations and the process of applying for funding through the Charles Colvington Foundation on his blog post here: http://www.charlescolvingtonfoundation.com/news 

 

Finn would encourage anyone considering applying for a United Nations Internship to take the opportunity and apply: “If you're hesitating, just go for it.”