Intern at League of Women Voters Increases Student Civic Engagement

     Jael, a Deering High School sophomore, served as a paid intern with the Maine League of Women Voters this year, thanks to a Painting for a Purpose grant. As a member of the Youth Council, Jael helped host a voter registration event at school and signed up more than 25 peers to vote in elections for the first time.

The LWV – P4P initiative aims to increase civic leadership skills for young people through peer-to-peer messaging. Student participants, in turn, develop and facilitate projects related to advocacy and local organizing. Their work helped increase student knowledge of voting, the U.S. government and student activism, as well as creating momentum and excitement for local elections, Jael says.

Jael and other Youth Council interns also reflected that as a result of their work with the League they developed stronger public speaking skills, leadership abilities, and group facilitation confidence. Jael shared that she is now interested in pursuing a career in law, thanks to her exposure at LWV. “I loved this internship,” she wrote.

• Student: Jael Mowa

• Adult Ally: Allyson Gardner

• Grant Award: $500