Fatim, Bachelor's degree with a specialization in Sociology,
Alternatives, Burkina Faso,
Network of Shea Butter Producers of Hauts Bassins and Cascades
As I approached the final stretch of my university journey, I decided to seize every opportunity available to me in terms of acquiring skills and, most importantly, knowledge. It was in this spirit that, on a Monday morning, I was delighted to find an email among my messages from the Faculty of Social Sciences. This email offered a tremendous opportunity to students enrolled in this faculty.
Why was it such a great opportunity? This email contained information about an international internship available to students of the Faculty of Social Sciences, which would be conducted remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic that many countries around the world were facing. Eager to seize this invaluable chance, I immediately submitted my application for the international internship. After meeting the necessary and formal requirements, I was accepted.
In which country is this remote internship taking place, and what is my role? This three-month remote internship is based in a West African country known as the "Land of Honest Men," or more commonly, Burkina Faso. Passionate about defending the rights of those discriminated against by society or belonging to visible minority groups, I wholeheartedly embraced my role as a Gender Equality Officer with great enthusiasm and commitment.
As a Gender Equality Officer and remote volunteer, I collaborate with a partner organization known as RPBHC, or the Network of Shea Butter Producers of Hauts Bassins and Cascades. Founded in 2008, this organization now has over 10,500 members federated across 269 groups. It is present in five provinces and 124 villages in two regions of Burkina Faso: Hauts Bassins and Cascades. This organization deserves great respect and recognition for its achievements. Among its many missions, one key objective is to "promote the socio-economic and cultural development of women and youth through sustainable management of the shea tree." Through its projects and partnerships, RPBHC enables women and young people to actively participate in the country's economic development while striving for financial independence and self-sufficiency.
Although I am only in my fifth week of this internship, I have already learned so much about a world entirely different from my own—one I had never experienced before. So far, the knowledge I have gained has been fulfilling, the responsibilities are engaging and stimulating, and the interaction with people from a culture different from mine is truly fascinating. Initially, before starting the internship and during the first week, my biggest concern was that this experience was entirely new to me, which left me feeling a bit apprehensive. I didn’t know what to expect. However, as time went on, my fears gradually disappeared.
This remote volunteering experience is a wonderful opportunity for learning and skill acquisition that everyone should have the chance to experience!