Meet Amie, our Project Intern

Please join us in welcoming Amie to the Fast Forward Team. Amie is joining us from Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam on a five month placement in the role of Project Intern. Get in touch at amie@fastforward.org.uk

I’ve recently moved back to my hometown in Scotland to complete a five-month internship at Fast Forward.

I have lived in sunny Falkirk for most of my life, but shortly after my 21^st birthday I moved to a city in the north of the Netherlands, where I have been living now for just over five years. During my time living abroad, I have learnt to speak fluent Dutch and am currently in my third and final year of university at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.  

I chose to study Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology because ultimately, I am a ‘people’s person’, and I love real, genuine conversations with people (in other words, I’m a blether). Studying anthropology has taught me how to connect with people to understand the differences, as well as similarities between different humans and our different cultures.

During the first two years, my courses have been widely diverse, and I have been learning how to ‘do’ ethnography by participating in several diverse qualitative research projects.

I began my placement in September, and joined the team at Fast Forward as a Project Intern. During this time, I will be conducting my own mini-research project, focusing primarily on the influence of peer pressure and how this informs consent. Alongside this project, I will also be gaining experience by shadowing colleagues across the organisation.

I’m looking forward to working closely with a group of young people from age sixteen at the West Lothian Skills Training Group. I’m interested to hear their views and experiences on risk taking behaviours including; vaping and tobacco, alcohol, drugs and gambling. Their input will be channeled into resources which can be used by youth workers, teachers and other professionals involved in youth work in the future.

I am really excited to be working on this project and to be able to learn from a team full of experience, knowledge and enthusiasm.