Kaity Cooper
THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTRE (LAC), WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA
During my 6-month placement at GRAP I was kept very busy working on a variety of law reform, legal research and legal education projects. I attended stakeholder meetings hosted by the Ministry of Gender and the Finnish Embassy where I collaborated with NGOs and government representatives on responses to gender-based violence in Namibia. I drafted legal education materials on issues that affect women and children, including fact sheets on no-fault divorce and the International Criminal Court and a child-friendly water conservation policy. I conducted public outreach through articles, radio programs and training sessions, including drafting op-eds on statelessness and water conservation that appeared in the national newspaper. And I conducted legal research and written briefs for use in law reform initiatives, including in a campaign to have Namibia accede to the two statelessness conventions.
In my spare time I signed up for as many community events as possible, joining a hockey club and yoga studio and attending regular local events and festivals. I also escaped the city a few weekends to explore other parts of Namibia.
I had a wonderful time in Windhoek and at the LAC. I highly recommend this placement and am grateful to have been given this opportunity.