Catherine, International Development and Globalization,
Alternatives,
Honduras Federación de Organizaciones de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras del Sector Social de la Economía de Honduras (FOTSSIEH),
Research officer on violence against women in the informal economy in Honduras.
In this second blog, I'd like to share my coping strategies in the face of these challenges, as well as what I've learned from these ten weeks of learning, and the role of the different players in making it all possible.
First of all, we have to admit that traveling on virtual terrain means, in part, taking a journey within ourselves to rediscover ourselves as a person. Since perfection doesn't exist, we have to expect surprises, illusions, discomfort, questioning, reconsideration and so on. All these elements drive us to search for ways to do things better. Certain situations call us back to ourselves, to reflect on and mobilize our potential, to seek out internal and external resources. This is when we learn to open up, to express ourselves, to ask questions, to ask for help, to step out of our comfort zone, to try new things, etc. For example, when it came to organizing my time, self-discipline and concentration, I would give myself small rewards of encouragement (going out for a walk, making calls, watching a film, etc.) after achieving my goals. If the task isn't completed, I deny myself these little pleasures. These challenges and little strategies have contributed to my personal growth.
What's more, throughout this internship, I've been able to accumulate a great deal of knowledge. Indeed, in the face of boredom, low workload and isolation, and after expressing myself without major change, I decided to make some proposals. I started devoting more time to reading about the research I was working on. I watched videos on my host country to improve my personal knowledge of its socio-economic, cultural, political and historical realities. I also took part as much as possible in the training courses organized by the Canadian NGO, which sometimes invites me to take part in external activities such as webinars, conferences, etc. In addition, the experience enabled me to broaden my range of personal relationships through the links created with new people. This process would not have been possible without the support of certain players.
In particular, the Faculty of Social Sciences, through its internship office, which, through pre-internship training, follow-up during the internship and personal reflection activities, helped the mandate to run smoothly. The role of the Canadian NGO is also much appreciated. The various training sessions were very enriching. As for the host organization, the fact that they opened their doors to us deserves recognition, because without them, we wouldn't even be talking about an internship. I can't do without my fellow trainees for the shared experience, which is a source of comfort and perseverance. This is also an opportunity to thank the other invisible players who, in one way or another, helped make the internship possible.
In conclusion, I can say that the experience itself is formative; the challenges encountered are transformative if you have the courage to take them on. All in all, I'm satisfied with my apprenticeship.