Marek enrolled at Masaryk University after graduating from the Ludvík Daněk Sports Grammar School in Brno. By January this year, he had completed his minor in Security and Strategic Studies and realized he had one more or less “free” semester before finishing his major in International Relations, since he had already met all his academic requirements. So he decided to make that time count by applying for an internship.
“From the very beginning, everyone at the faculty encouraged us to take advantage of Erasmus and spend some time studying abroad. But I didn’t want to spend a whole semester just going to school in another country. I wanted real work experience and something interesting for my CV,” says Marek, who is currently waiting to hear back about his master’s program application.
While reading the Magazín M, Marek came across an interview with Masaryk University alumnus and current Czech ambassador to Ethiopia, Miroslav Kosek. “In the interview, the ambassador mentioned that he was considering offering internship opportunities at the embassy. So, at the end of last November, I decided to send him a polite email and simply ask about the possibility of an internship,” Marek recalls.
Once he received a positive response, things started moving quickly. The internship had to be confirmed and approved by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which required personal documents and a motivation letter. Then came the practical arrangements: vaccinations, health insurance, visas, and booking flights.
Knowing that he still had his bachelor’s thesis to finish and had to start preparing for his final exams, Marek flew out in mid-March to Addis Ababa, a city of major political importance in Africa. It’s the seat of the African Union, a key organization that plays a central role in both continental and global African political and economic affairs.
At the embassy, Marek worked under the supervision of Deputy Ambassador and Head of the Political Economy Section, Miroslav Bálint. His main task was to prepare reports on the political and security situation in the Horn of Africa. “Specifically, I focused on South Sudan, Somalia, and some of the less stable regions of Ethiopia,” Marek explains. “What interested me most was the situation in South Sudan, which was in the midst of a crisis involving some back-and-forth between the government and the opposition. All the embassies in the region were closely watching the situation, as it had the potential to escalate into a full-blown conflict.”
Thanks to this, Marek had the chance to attend meetings at several European embassies. As he says, for a student of International Relations and Security and Strategic Studies, it was the perfect environment to gain hands-on experience in security analysis. But his activities didn’t stop there. During his two-month internship, he also participated in sessions of the UN Economic Commission for Africa and attended meetings at the African Union as well as EU institutions focused on Africa.
One of the highlights of Marek Peringer’s internship was helping to organize a program in Addis Ababa for a visiting delegation from the Czech National Museum. The reason? This August, the Czech Republic, the National Museum, and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Tourism will jointly present one of the world’s most important paleoanthropological treasures – the iconic human ancestor Australopithecus afarensis, better known as Lucy.
“For the first time ever, Lucy’s original 3.2-million-year-old skeleton will be exhibited in Europe, at the National Museum in Prague,” Marek explains. “Selam, a fossil of a young child of the same species and found in the same region a bit later than Lucy but about 100,000 years older, will also be coming to Prague. Both fossils are considered Ethiopia’s most valuable cultural heritage.” As part of his work, Marek attended several meetings at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Tourism, where discussions were held about the logistics and transportation of these priceless exhibits ahead of the Czech delegation’s arrival.
Although Ethiopia isn’t considered entirely safe, with crime widespread particularly in larger cities, Marek still found time to explore the country’s tourist attractions. “In Addis Ababa, I visited museums, historic sites, the zoo, and local markets,” he says. “I liked to spend the weekends in nature reserves and around the lakes. At Lake Ziway, which is home to many bird species and a paradise for birdwatchers, we were lucky enough to spot a family of hippos. Langano, on the other hand, is often called the jewel of Ethiopian lakes. Its mineral-rich water makes it the only lake in the country considered safe for swimming.”
Although the embassy’s African chef excels in cooking Czech dishes, Marek made sure to explore the local cuisine as well. He enjoyed trying traditional Ethiopian food, coffee, local spirits and wine – and especially the delicious fresh fruit.
Ethiopia faces many challenges, but all the people Marek met during his internship were incredibly kind, welcoming, and open. “I was genuinely surprised by their warmth and natural friendliness,” he says. He also expresses deep appreciation for the entire team at the embassy. “Everyone was willing to help and shared valuable advice that I’ll carry with me into my future career.”
For Marek, the chance to observe diplomatic negotiations led by the ambassador and other embassy staff in Addis Ababa was both insightful and inspiring. “It was an experience that gave me a real sense of what diplomacy looks like in practice.” And on a personal level, the internship left a lasting impact as well. “It made me realize just how good we have it in Europe – and how often we take our standard of living for granted,” he reflects.