Week VIII: Czeching Calls & Creating Contracts

Changing the Narrative

This week, I was asked to revisit and rework the grant narrative I drafted last week with a different direction based on internal feedback. While the original version had already received initial approval from the Kigali office, new guidance from leadership suggested reframing the proposal to better align with the priorities emphasized in the call for applications. It was a good reminder that in legal and nonprofit writing, strong work often comes from thoughtful revision and responsiveness to shifting needs.

We focused on making the narrative sharper, targeted, and compelling for a funder audience. The updated version emphasizes rights awareness through youth-led games and creative engagement, while still reflecting the legal depth and mission-driven work at the heart of IBJ's programming. The final product felt more focused, fundable, and effective.

Julie handled the budget justification, while I concentrated on revising the narrative. This shift has strengthened my ability to respond to feedback and pivot to better serve the local community.

Cambodian Contracts

This week also marked an exciting professional milestone: I drafted my first contract!

The case involved several foreign teenagers in Cambodia who are currently facing criminal charges. I prepared individual defense engagement agreements in both English and Khmer, outlining the scope of representation with a local attorney including key elements such as client details, fee structure, confidentiality, and procedural expectations.

Writing these contracts made me think carefully about clarity, cultural context, and how to communicate across languages. It was an introduction to international legal work that allowed me to put what I've been learning in a real-world context.

Beyond Work

After a packed week of narrative revisions and legal drafting, I hopped on a flight to Prague with Rebecca, another IBJ intern and student at Georgetown Law. We spent our days roaming cobblestone streets, passing gothic cathedrals, and standing beneath the famous 1618 Defenestration window. What's a weekend getaway without a little politically charged window-throwing?

 

 

One of the highlights was a medieval dinner and show that felt wonderfully Kafkaesque. There were fire dancers, sword fights, a belly dancer who blew me a kiss, and a juggler who turned me into the magician at our table. He was just my assistant, of course. I performed a magic trick with some highly questionable instructions, and the crowd (my table) went wild.

 

 

Kafka's presence is felt throughout Prague, from museum plaques to offbeat statues and tucked-away street art. There's something about the city's whimsy charm and winding, moody streets that makes it feel like the perfect setting for his legacy. It's poetic, slightly disorienting, and filled with layered meaning at every turn. 

We also visited Prague's Jewish Quarter, including the Old Cemetery, Holocaust memorial, and synagogues. The experience was profoundly moving.

We ended our visit at the Klementinum, climbing what felt like an endless spiral staircase to a baroque library and observatory tower. The view from the top, complete with rooftops, domes, and spires, was the perfect way to close the trip.

    

 

From drafting legal contracts in Cambodia to standing in a centuries-old library in Prague, this week was all about seeing things from new perspectives, zooming in on the details, and zooming out to take in the whole picture.

 

À la semaine prochaine,

Sydney