The 2022 Maliasili Internship program, now in its third year, recently ended. This year, the program took on several African Leadership University (ALU) students from the Mauritius and Rwanda campuses. Some students were offered opportunities within Maliasili, while others supported our partners in various roles. The internships lasted four months, and in this blog post, the students share their experiences, including advice on how others can make the best use of similar internship opportunities.

A summary of the lessons learned includes:

• It’s okay to be vulnerable -  there are a lot of unknown factors at the beginning of an internship. It’s okay not to know everything.

• Ask questions - it’s important to be curious about your work and to ask the right questions to get from point A to B.

• Ask for feedback - this is the best way to grow. Don't be afraid to ask for feedback.

• Open communication counts -  Always communicate. Keep communication open with your supervisor. Communication is essential and builds trust.

• Embrace failure - Celebrate successes, embrace failure, learn, pick up, and move on.

Here are some of their experiences from this year's internship program.

How would you describe your internship experience? 

Mardia: As an enthusiast for conservation, I had great expectations for my internship at the Ujamaa Community Resource Team (UCRT, Arusha, Tanzania) through Maliasili. The thought of working with an indigenous conservation group was inspiring. Starting my internship, I got introduced to the team, and got to brainstorm how I could help with each activity. Working on UCRT’s website remodeling was fun; I explored new creative design and communication skills. My experience with the team at the African Protected Area Congress (APAC) in Rwanda was amazing. I enjoyed helping out with a few media opportunities. My experience wasn’t all rosy, and I could have done better in some areas; I communicated poorly on several occasions, delayed tasks, and sometimes did not know what was required of me. Regardless, it was a worthwhile experience, and both the good and bad taught me always to find solutions.

Aro:  During my internship at Maliasili, I developed many skills, such as research. I learned how to derive a methodology better and ask the right questions. Even though research is a course I’ve taken in school, having first-hand experience in this field is rewarding. I had the opportunity to engage with the rural community and develop my communication skills.  My internship required me to interact with people in person and online. After almost two years of online interactions in school due to the pandemic, having face-to-face interactions with people was a little weird.  Carrying out field research and not sending online questionnaires got me out of my comfort zone, and I initially struggled with the whole process. But with the great support from my supervisors at Maliasili, I managed to pull this through. With their help, I developed my communication skills, improved my research, and got a few tips on facilitating in-person meetings. I have always been a quiet and shy girl, but during my internship, I was encouraged to step out of my comfort zone; thanks to that, I am glad to say that I became more confident and outgoing at the end of my internship.

José:  My internship involved a lot of learning, both in the area of information technology and conservation. As a student who previously had only IT-related internships, my time with Maliasili was very impactful as I was immersed in the world of conservation in Africa. My primary role was to develop a website for an organization working in conservation in Angola, which opened my eyes to how local conservation organizations work. I now see the possibility of using my IT skills to contribute to this important field. Working on this project taught me the importance of communication between team members and prioritizing my work. I believe the skills learned during this internship will benefit me in the future.

What was your top takeaway from the Maliasili internship program?

Lassana: Being an intern at Maliasili was a huge and promising advantage as it allowed me to interact directly with my supervisors. Although it was a remote internship, it didn't feel like it. I had the opportunity to own a project which enabled me to utilize the knowledge and skills gained through my studies. Maliasili allows you to innovate, and they listen to your ideas. I have come out of this experience with rich expertise and hands-on experience.

Lyse : Through this internship, I have gained digital communication skills. However, my greatest takeaway has been how to build professional relationships while working remotely. I had never done a remote internship before, so I was constantly adapting throughout my internship. I was lucky to have great support from Maliasili and never felt alone or overwhelmed. I learned to take the initiative to reach out to my supervisors whenever needed. This is critical considering the remote setting where most people are either busy or unavailable. This made me more proactive and better at problem-solving. The 1:1 check-in calls and meetings, which were additional support systems, helped me better understand the non-profit sector's language and gave me a good glimpse into working with remote teams, which can be exciting too.