Fatou, Political Science, minor in economics, option in entrepreneurship, creativity and social innovation
Internship Country: Democratic Republic of Congo
Canadian NGO: Alternatives
Local NGO: Solidarité des Femmes pour le Développement Intégral (SOFEDI)
Program Assistant
Doing an international internship... from a distance, that's no easy task! Firstly, because communication with local organizations can be tedious, but also and above all, because it takes away the experience of a change of scenery and immersion in unknown lands.
At the same time, this very distance allowed us to develop our resilience, flexibility, and perseverance. We had no choice but to adapt to this new format and stimulate our intellect to find strategies that would enable us to make the most of this unique experience. In this dynamic, the university’s support was of great help. Indeed, the course aligned with the internship allowed us to objectively identify our strengths and weaknesses and, most importantly, understand the best way to find the necessary balance to use them effectively. Personally, this course helped me better understand my skills, which was crucial in shaping my future academic and professional choices. Beyond personal development, it also allowed us, through various activities, to gain insight into the socio-cultural context of the country where we were supposed to complete our internship. While nothing can replace human contact, these activities still gave us the feeling of being there and of connecting, even slightly, with people on the other side of the world.
The Canadian organization was also a great support during this exceptional period. It helped us stay on track, maintain communication with our local organizations, and, above all, sharpen our communication skills and general cultural knowledge through various training sessions.
Moreover, this internship in a pandemic context allowed us to immerse ourselves further in the hyperconnected world that has now become ours. We had no choice but to learn how to use certain communication and work tools to which we had never necessarily been exposed before—adding more strings to our bow!