Émilie, International Development and Globalization,
Forum of Federations,
Myanmar and Nepal,
Project Support
One of the most common problems encountered by recent graduates when looking for a job is a lack of experience. It was while looking for solutions to this problem, during my second year of university, that I found this international internship opportunity. It allows me to gain new knowledge, while continuing my academic career at the University of Ottawa. There are many places to do this internship, and selecting the Canadian organization was no easy task! All the NGOs are very interesting, but I chose the Forum of Federations in Myanmar and Nepal. The particular situation in these countries, but especially that of Myanmar, greatly influenced my choice. Unfortunately, the current world situation does not allow me to join my colleagues there, but the experiences are just as enriching.
The tasks and work didn't take long to arrive. Within the first week, I had three presentations to make, two of which were to a class at Chiang Mai University. This immediately took me out of my comfort zone, as I don't enjoy oral presentations! Despite the stress and amount of work these assignments caused me, I came out a winner, as the awkwardness and discomfort of speaking in front of groups had no choice but to dissipate. It also enabled me to work on my presentation skills. My responsibilities mainly involve assisting and supporting my colleagues in their day-to-day tasks, which helps me greatly to understand the kind of work I might have to do when I'm in this field myself.
Working online does cause certain problems. For me, it was more difficult to really understand the situation experienced by my colleagues in Myanmar. With the coup d'état that took place in February, they have experienced and continue to experience great difficulties. Not being there, it's not always easy to understand the scale of the situation. It was by finding my way around, asking questions and reading the country's local media that I was able to educate myself about the situation and gain a greater sensitivity. This experience also brought me face to face with the realities on the ground. It made me realize that it's essential to be well educated before traveling to a country or, in my case, working there.
In short, although we're only halfway through the internship, I'm very happy to be here. I'm sure the experiences I've gained will be extremely relevant throughout my career in international development.