Microfinance

I enjoyed doing presentations the most as I got to share my perspective and opinions of certain topics. The internship has contributed towards my presentation and communication skills.

This internship has given me more confidence and I think that this alone will serve me very well in the future, in whatever profession I decide to go into. If anyone else is given this opportunity I would highly encourage them to do it, as it has really opened my eyes to the power each individual person can have. This role furthered my understanding of the subject of microfinance and helped me develop skills such as communicating and working effectively with people of all different backgrounds. My most significant learning points were related to skills learnt in the areas of time management, communication and presentation skills, which will be very useful in the future. My favorite part of this internship was meeting new people and learning about new cultures.

Having completed my remote microfinance internship, I feel more empowered in my field. I now have a better understanding of microfinance, what it entails, how it operates, and what needs to be done to ensure it operates successfully. I think that I still have a lot to learn, but I also think this internship was a great learning experience and a starting point to further my understanding of this field. My most significant learning points were learning about microfinance and its principles, as well as seeing real time examples of those principles. Aside from that, I also had exposure to what it's like working as an employee in terms of deadlines, assignments, and presentations. In addition, this internship was a great way to hone my research skills, as I needed to do research for almost all the assignments I was tasked with. My favourite memory from the internship was after I presented the project management manual I have been assigned to compile. I remember feeling a sense of pride, since I had worked really hard on it, researching, and learning all kinds of new things. It was very satisfying to complete it and be recognized for my work. I put a lot into doing the best I could, learning about a subject I did not know before, and when it worked out, it felt amazing.

At the beginning of my internship, I was a bit nervous about how well I would perform, however I soon realized that it’s all about focusing on the experience, so I shouldn't be afraid of making mistakes. My tasks were mostly business consulting from a different perspective. I assessed how other companies or organizations succeeded and thrived, in order to come up with ideas to improve my host organization. I also worked to find ways to help women in Tanzania with starting their own businesses, by focusing on training and education. I learnt that with enough knowledge and experience, one can have tremendous success, even when facing hardship and prejudice. Going forward in my career, I want to use my skills to help others. This internship has educated me on how to make a dramatic impact with limited funding and money. There was a lot of effort from my supervisors to properly help me understand how to run a non-profit organization and build up a business for people struggling with money. Microfinance is a skill that I believe I can use to help people in the future.