The Impact of Inspiring Student Opportunities: Samantha Flood

When Sam Flood walked into a packed auditorium at a public event on women’s leadership in peace and security, she didn’t yet know it would mark the beginning of a deeper journey with the organization behind it—the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security. 

Then a political science student at the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University, Sam was drawn to the Institute’s mission of preventing the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. What began as a practicum placement soon grew into something more: a meaningful collaboration that shaped her academic path, contributed to real-world advocacy, and brought fresh insight to the Institute’s work. 

At the Dallaire Institute, an important component of the work we do is to provide opportunities for students to gain experience with issues related to our mission to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. The opinions and ideas of young people provide valuable insights and bring energy and curiosity into our work, so it is important to facilitate every opportunity we can for young people.  

So much so, that we have established a Youth Advisory Council that does essential work to raise awareness and implement activities to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed violence. It aims to empower peers to advocate for child protection, and collaborates with the Dallaire Institute on creating inclusive, culturally sensitive, and gender-responsive initiatives.   

During the winter semester of 2025, the University of King’s College (Halifax, Nova Scotia) student, Samantha (Sam) Flood, needed to find a practicum placement for a course she was taking at Dalhousie University. Her hope was to find one that provided professional experience in a field she was interested in – the role of youth in global peace and security.  

“Luckily, I found the practicum course in the academic calendar and was placed at the Dallaire Institute”, smiled Flood.  

Before Sam began her practicum, she attended a public panel discussion on Women Leading in Building Peace and Security, in the fall of 2024, hosted by the Dallaire Institute, which featured several high-profile individuals involved in the global peace-building nexus, including Her Excellency Dr. Fatou Bensouda, Muzna Dureid and Cynthia Chigwenya.  

“Francesa Albanese, the current UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, opened the discussion via Zoom with some very moving words on the need to speak up and act on human atrocities around the world,” remembered Flood. “The room was filled with students, many of whom I recognized from my political science classes and various activist circles. You could really tell that the speakers' words on the importance of bravery, action and determination, and the role youth play in making change moved us all”. 

Once she began her practicum, she spent seven hours a week in the office doing research that involved updating the country profiles used to inform programming and advocacy at the Dallaire Institute. 

“In my early days at the Dallaire Institute, I was lucky to be a part of a brainstorming session on the situation in South Sudan,” said Flood. “It was really incredible to see where my research was going, how it was helping our team stay best informed about what was happening on the ground. It’s easy to think that one’s research isn’t going anywhere, but the Dallaire Institute’s research to action strategy makes it clear how impactful our work is”. 

Sam made such an impression on the team that she was invited to become a member of our Youth Advisory Council as a Canadian representative. 

“The first quarterly meeting I attended with all other council members was very impactful for me -- it was incredible to hear all the impressive projects my fellow youth leaders are working on all around the world”, said Flood. 

The opportunity to interest and engage young people in the peace-building agenda, and involve them in our day-to-day activities, is an exciting opportunity for us as well.  

“Supervising Sam was a dream — she is dedicated, sharp, and consistently demonstrated the right balance of ambition and humility,” said Madeline Zutt, Policy and Advocacy Manager. “Her work putting together country briefs — in particular for countries that the Dallaire Institute is starting to work in, were instrumental in advancing our early advocacy efforts in these new access countries”.  

After Sam’s practicum concluded, her professor, Dr. Margaret Denike, contacted Dr. Shelly Whitman, the Executive Director at the Dallaire Institute to thank the Institute for providing Sam with such a positive and productive learning experience”. 

“I met with Sam yesterday, at her honours thesis defense, and –yet again—she had nothing but great things to say about her work with you, and how invaluable it has been, indeed as the highlight of her undergraduate experience”, wrote Associate Professor Margaret Denike, Department of Political Science, Dalhousie University. “She is one of my strongest and most talented students, and I know that the opportunity that you have provided through the practicum will only make her stronger. Based on Sam’s reports to her peers, I already have a few students requesting placements with you next winter, when I will be offering this course again. I hope you will continue to participate in the Program and benefit our students in such a great way. I really appreciate everything you do!”  

Sam has since graduated from the University of Kings College and Dalhousie, and feels her time with the Dallaire Institute was incredibly impactful to really understand how a civil society organization (CSO) like Dallaire worked in practice through all the various meetings, one-on-one conversations, trainings and brainstorming sessions Ishe was able to participate in. 

“Now, I’m back at the Dallaire Institute this summer as a research consultant, helping pull together strategic planning for our Canadian programming”, said Flood. “Through school I learned valuable research skills by reading dense theory and philosophy and literature, but I wasn’t incredibly well versed at reading grey literature and government reports. My time at the Dallaire Institute has really shown me how to use and pivot all the skills I developed in my undergrad to help move real change”.  

“I am thrilled that she's come back to the organization as a research consultant," said Zutt. 

Dr. Julie Marie Hyde, Dallaire Institute’s Director, Research and Knowledge Mobilization, echoed Zutt’s sentiments as well.  

“I am so grateful for the support that Sam provided during her internship, and incredibly happy that she’s continuing to work with us. Sam’s contributions underscore the value of internship and co-op programs—not only for the professional growth opportunities these offer students, but also as a genuine asset to the Dallaire Institute. These placements bring fresh perspectives, energy, and talent into our work, and Sam exemplified all of these and more”.