Transformative Internship Experience: Carlotta’s Journey with YAWE Foundation

Immersive Fieldwork: Home Visits and Community Engagement

My name is Carlotta and I am studying International Emergency and Disaster Relief while also working as a paramedic. As part of my bachelor’s degree, I completed a three-month internship at YAWE to gain an insight into the coordinative and organizational activities of a community based NGO and to experience the practical work.
From April to June, I was assigned to a program based on home visits, working in the social sector of the community within a team of two. In the first few weeks of my internship, hardly a day went by without my colleague and I taking a motorcycle to visit people in their homes who were receiving support from YAWE through medical and social activities. The people we visited were of different ages, but most of them were children and had various illnesses and disabilities. Many of them suffer from mental and/or physical disabilities, epilepsy, HIV infection, malnutrition and undernourishment, but there were also special chronic illnesses such as sickle cell disease. They all receive individual support from the YAWE programme, which is committed to supporting vulnerable and marginalized groups. Due to their vulnerability, some have limited access to medical facilities and social services.

Collaborative Problem-Solving and Fundraising Success

My colleague introduced me to a total of 38 people and their families, I got to know their medical history, therapy and previous developments. We then discussed possible individual solutions that could bring about a short-term and sustainable improvement in their lives. Working together intensively, we came up with many ideas and possibilities, which we then discussed and presented to those affected. We also asked the individuals and their caregivers about their current unmet needs.
I enjoyed this activity and it gave me a sense of cooperation and collaboration at eye level and participation in the entire process, which enabled me to make a contribution to the YAWE program as part of the team.
During this time, we also developed a fundraising campaign for the project to meet the individual needs of the people and make a positive contribution. We are overjoyed that we were able to collect a total of 3,770 euros (4,048 US$/15,145,000 UGX) in private donations in such a short time, which were directly used to implement the project´s ideas. In this way, we prioritized our previously developed work plan, which represented the implementation of the most needed activities and resources for those affected by the project.

Empowering Vulnerable Communities: Delivering on Promises

We drew up financial and strategic plans for the coming weeks, in which we procured the necessary materials, commissioned work steps and then handed over the individually required items to the respective people or supported them in designing and realizing their wishes. Over time, 36 people received a mosquito net and food package, we gave several items of clothing to 25 children and adults, some received mattresses, bed covers and sheets, various seeds and 6 goats were financed. In addition, 22 people received financial support for various business ideas, such as their own store, vegetable and firewood sales or animal farming. But additional wishes were also taken into account, so that we were involved in the renovation of a house, paid for electricity and commissioned various adapted aids such as wheelchairs or knee cups. Our ideas and future plans are constantly expanding and the project is growing with incredible potential.
The impressions, experiences and perceptions that I was able to gather during my internship have led to incredibly intense, fundamental and extensive insights. I have broadened my understanding of various sensitive topics through the combination of theoretical foundations learned for instance through trainings and meetings and through the practice-oriented work, and have strengthened my ability to apply, adapt and correct my previous knowledge to different contexts. By working at different organizational levels and being integrated into the work, I gained an overview of key structures of a community-oriented NGO. I am indescribably grateful to YAWE and especially to my close team colleague for this comprehensive experience.