This summer, Francesca Mattetti, a Political Science major with minors in Legal Studies and Sociology at John Cabot University, interned at Talitha Kum, a Catholic network of religious sisters dedicated to combating human trafficking.
Established in 2009 under the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), Talitha Kum brings together over 6,000 members worldwide, working to prevent exploitation and support survivors.
Francesca Mattetti
Francesca describes the experience as one-of-a-kind: “Interning at Talitha Kum is the kind of experience that you can only have in Rome. As a Political Science and Law student, I’ve always been focused on international cooperation and how countries and organizations deal with human rights. This internship allowed me to put that into practice.”
Her role at Talitha Kum was multifaceted, combining research with communications. “My work focused primarily on data collection and analysis for our 2024 annual report, which we presented in August. I also helped with translations in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, and supported the production of social media content for our pages.”
Still, what stayed with her most were the human stories behind the numbers. “A moment I’ll truly never forget was reading the stories of change from some of our survivors. These stories really show how our impact plays out in the real world and how we can actually help vulnerable communities across the globe.”
Reflecting on her time at Talitha Kum, Francesca says the experience has been transformative. “This internship has truly challenged me and inspired me to dive even deeper into the fields I study at JCU, as well as how they can make an impact in a professional setting. I really think this serves as an amazing foundation for my future career in human rights.”
At John Cabot University, students like Francesca gain access to unique opportunities through the Center for Career Services, which connects students with organizations in Rome and beyond.
