Emmanuella Henshaw writes…
As an intern at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), I had the opportunity to work on a range of exciting and meaningful projects that helped me to develop my skills and knowledge in research, policy, and communication.
One of my key achievements was my involvement in the development of the UNFPA London social media campaign on the “body right” campaign and 16 days of activism. This was an incredibly rewarding experience, as I was responsible for developing the content for the campaign and was able to see my work help shape the campaign’s messaging and reach. It was inspiring to be part of a team that was so committed to raising awareness of the importance of protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls.
I was able to analyze and interpret data from the research sources and write reports, which helped me to develop my research and writing skills.
In addition to the research work, I also had the opportunity to support and coordinate a range of events, including the London UK Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Conference and a DCS series webinar on “Making the Most of… Working with the UK – Voices from the Field”. These projects were complex and required a lot of coordination and attention to detail, but they were also incredibly rewarding as I was able to see the impact of our work in promoting the rights of women and girls.
However, my internship was not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges I faced was adapting to remote work, which was a new experience for me. It made it difficult to build relationships with my team members, and it was harder to manage my time and stay organized. Another significant challenge was dealing with personal loss as I lost my mom during the internship.
However, I was incredibly grateful for the love and support of my team members who showed me empathy and never stopped checking up on me. This helped me to build strong relationships with my team members and helped me to adapt to remote work.
Overall, my internship experience at UNFPA was incredibly valuable and rewarding. It helped me to develop my skills and gain a deeper understanding of the important work that the organization does in promoting the health and rights of women and girls around the world.
I learned the importance of research, communication, and teamwork, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such a dedicated team. I look forward to applying the skills and knowledge I gained during my internship to future opportunities and continuing to support the important work of organizations like UNFPA.