South Africa: From a small to a big organisation

My internship journey has been nothing but growth. Coming back from the December holidays, I felt recharged and ready to do more work. The environment here is amazing, and the team is very supportive and inspiring.

As part of the MEL & Communication team, I have learned so much. I discovered the importance of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and effective communication in the workplace and in the work we do. These are areas that we still need to strengthen in my home organisation, so this experience has been very valuable.

I have learned how to balance my responsibilities by doing some duties for my home organisation while completing my work here. The working environment is lovely, and I am surrounded by fellow interns who feel like sisters. We support each other, share tasks, and work together as a team, which makes coming to work every day enjoyable.

Coming from a small organisation to a big organisation, I noticed a big gap, but I also learned a lot. One of my favourite tasks has been uploading stories on the website. It was my first time working with a website, and at first it was challenging, but with support from my colleagues, I slowly gained confidence. I also enjoyed editing stories of change and drivers of change, which helped me see the real impact of organisations and their work. Through this, I learned that many organisations outside South Africa are doing amazing work.

Handling social media pages with a large following was another exciting experience. I learned how to create a social media plan, understand the best times to post, and manage content effectively. I also learned video editing skills from one of my fellow interns. This has been one of my favourite skills, and I am already using it in my home organisation. I will continue to use and develop this skill in the future.

Life outside work during this internship has also been beautiful. I built strong relationships with fellow interns, and we enjoyed activities together on weekends, such as swimming and exploring the beauty of Johannesburg.

The skills I have gained during this internship will help me grow as an individual and contribute positively to my organisation back home. This journey has strengthened my confidence and inspired me to dream bigger. I am grateful for this opportunity, and I hope that in the future, such opportunities will find me again.

I am looking forward to the 2026 summit.