Describe your internship experience using only 3 words.
Eye-opening
Empowering
Valuable
What made you decide to do a local, South African internship?
My heart is to serve Africa's most vulnerable communities and to empower and equip them to create a better and brighter future for themselves. Being on the ground and seeing and hearing the reality of child abuse and neglect has motivated me, even more, to step out and make a difference. It made me realise that I have a part to play in making this world a better place and the brief internship has provided me with valuable tools to do so.
Tell us about the project that you worked on while doing your internship.
I served as an intern for the Western Cape Child Protection Collaborative (CPC). As an intern, I coordinated between CPC members and the public through mediums such as the website, newsletters, blogs, and Facebook. Other tasks included:
Planning, administering, and recording CPC meetings.
Assisting with proposal and policy writing.
Supporting the CPC to develop a framework within which an intentional relationship with the Western Cape Child Commissioner’s Office could be established.
What was your supervisor like and how did she help you with your internship?
It was helpful to have a main point of contact for questions, approval, mentorship, etc. She and the team made me feel a part of the team very quickly. It would have been nice to meet up with her in person and on a more regular basis to learn more from her and be able to push things forward faster.
What was the highlight of your project?
Listening to conversations in the room and learning from each person's personal experiences and perspectives. It was great meeting with other iKapa volunteers/ team members on a regular basis, getting to know each other, sharing more about our experiences, and providing each other with new ideas. It felt like a family.
What new skills did you apply from the theory you learned at university?
Being on the ground allowed me to experience first-hand what I have been reading up on with the intent of actively trying to find and suggest practical (and not just theoretical) solutions. I was even able to mention my work in the Child Protection space from the stimulating collaborations and encountering challenges I experienced.
What new skills did you learn that you could apply to future experiences?
Public Relations skills.
Do you think this internship will influence your career path in any way and, if so, how?
Yes, my experience and newfound interest in PR & Communications have largely influenced my decision to start working at a PR & Communications agency on a full-time basis, while managing a pan-African project and focusing on stimulating cross-border collaboration and empowering groups in society.
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