Child Development Society : My Internship Diary

 

As my fourth semester was ending up, I was searching for a suitable health organization for my internship that I had to carry out for the fifth semester. I ran different NGOs and Primary Health Care Centres for this. Writing a cover letter, sending a resume, stating the concrete objectives of the internship was quite challenges for me as I was the beginner for these things. Due to different reasons like meeting the internship objectives in that organization, distance, time,  and working modality, I got rejected from 3 organizations that I thought and approached. It was a kind of frustration for me. One day, I was talking about my internship with my co fellow from Samaanta Foundation. He shared his internship experiences with me. I had asked him more about the organizations that he had worked as an intern. After listening to him, I got to know that the organization he interned in is also working towards a health program in child and maternal health. I searched about it on Google and found it interesting that suitable for my internship as well.

Yes, I am talking about the Child Development Society(CDS) of Kapan Kathmandu that works in the welfare of children and mothers. I  had a call with the health department of CDS. They asked me to visit them once. I went there with my college reference letters and CV. I talked with Health Incharge and Executive director. It was a kind of interview so, I felt some nervousness as well. Finally, they accept me and call me for the internship. My internship duration was initially for 45 days. My purpose of the internship was to understand the health care system of CDS, their health programs, their strategies and activities for the respective health program and to involve with their works.

My role was to assist the Lab Technician and Health in-charge in their work especially administrative. Apart from that, I could design the health programs from the child and maternal care. For that, I had to make a concept note/proposal and execute the plans. After the program, I had to make a final report and had to submit to the program manager. Apart from that, I was involved in medical care, first aid, counseling in the Maternal and Child Health clinic of CDS. I was also involved in report writing, logistics management, health camps, etc. It was a completely new experience for me.

During my internship period, I lead mainly three health programs there. I had conducted the communicable disease awareness program for the women group (Brick Factory Workers) of CDS, a Personal Hygiene education program for the children, and a Mental Health and Self Care workshop for the student of grade 8. The experience of leading those programs at CDS was great.  I get different perspectives and understand the community with regards to health practices and behavior. I found that there is still a lack of health education and health awareness in the society. The result of which they are adopting superstitious beliefs and unhygienic practices. I was so glad that they reflected their understandings and gratitude at the reflection part of the session. The active participation of all participants made it easier to run the session.

(Pic: Health Awareness session on Prevention of Communicable Diseases )

 

Working and involving with the students was engaging and fun to me. Their curiosity made me more engaged throughout the session. It felt so satisfied while engaging with them and tried to answer their concern regarding well-being, hygiene, and self-care.

(Pic: Mental Health, Self-Care and Personal Hygiene Management session)

However, managing the time for an internship as a challenge for me. After college, I had to travel 40 minutes on a public bus to reach CDS. But the everyday new learning from CDS and working with the team of the CDS health department always thrive me to arrive there on time. It pushed me to explore more. I learned basic things that are essential for professional life there such as concept note writing skills, report writing skills, heath camp management skills, documentation skills, leadership skills, and interpersonal skills. It was always fun to work with Lab technician sir, Health in-charge mam, consultant sir, and colleagues. I also got a chance to learn first aid skills and essential medical care skills there. The great thing for me is that they are still calling me for their work like health camp and health education programs. 

(Pic: Health Camp)

 

My internship was last for three months though I was going there for only 45 days initially. I am grateful to CDS for providing me a platform to learn new, sharp my knowledge and skills. I found more professionalization in my work after this internship. It was worthful to work there as an intern. At last, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Ms. Anuradha Chaudhary (Health Incharge), Mr. Sajay Acharya sir (Lab Technician), and my intern colleagues Rushma and Srijana for their kind cooperation and help throughout my internship period.