As my German vocabulary incrementally grew, so did my understanding of the state’s relationship to human trafficking laws, including how NGOs like IJM were preparing to help lawmakers meet upcoming EU transposition deadlines. Alongside this, my work on the transnational referral mechanism brief began to take clearer shape. The scope became more apparent, and I found myself in the curious position of helping IJM’s own team members make sense of technical legal terms: my research was to feed into something colleagues could use later in their advocacy. 

Meanwhile, it was objectives and key results (OKR) week, with time devoted to reviewing each team’s collective impact and setting goals for the next quarter. Partaking in these discussions offered a revealing look at the NGO’s operations and the leadership involved in planning its work. Much of the conversation concerned granular details: improving workflows, keeping communication channels useful, and deciding what to prioritise. The patience involved in these collaborative discussions helped me understand how organisations allocate limited resources while planning ahead. Our team’s small size made this process especially valuable; practical adjustments helped ensure everyone was on the same page and connected to the work and its purpose.

The increasingly self-directed research did bring some difficulties, particularly in knowing where to look and how far to follow a source. I leaned on a fellow intern who was never shy about offering guidance. Alongside helpful resources, she even helped me identify Bundestag committee sessions to attend in person, earmarking company time to follow these discussions beyond my laptop. I found this support reassuring; in retrospect, I could have asked for help finding sources earlier. As OKR week drew to a rather pleasant close, one with champagne and strawberries, I geared up to meet a friend in Paris for the Fête de la Musique.