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is a senior International Affairs student with a geographic concentration on Africa and the Middle East, and she is also completing the Peace, Conflict, and Security Studies (PACS) certificate. She is currently in the IAFS Internship Program, working with the . We recently interviewed Rodayna to learn more about her experience in the IAFS Internship Program.Ìý

Why did you decide to do an internship? Or what made you want to apply for the IAFS Internship Program?

I decided to apply for an internship and participate in the internship program, because I thought it would be a great way to apply what I had been learning in a more real life setting that would allow me to get a glimpse into part of the field of work before graduation.Ìý

What does The Mwebaza FoundationÌýdo and what sort of work or projects do you work on as an intern?

The main goals of the are to educate and connect kids in Uganda and Colorado in order to foster a sense of global citizenship in the kids through education.Ìý

A large part of my internship this semester has been joining the organization at the elementary schools they partner with in Colorado when they give lessons to listen in and talk to the students. I observe the conversations that the kids have, their responses to the lessons, and the work they produce in order to assess if they are grasping what is being taught, connecting to the lessons, and look for strengths and areas of improvement. I've also worked with the organization to create rubrics to assess these things and do independent work looking through the different projects the kids do to continue the assessments.Ìý

What’s been your favorite aspect of working with The Mwebaza FoundationÌýso far?

I've loved seeing how the kids we work with, especially the younger kids, are so enraptured by the lessons.Ìý

It's been a pleasure and a privilege to see how much impact the organization can really have on the kids that they work with and inspire them to be more globally aware and empathetic.Ìý

What has been the most challenging thing as an intern and how have you dealt with it?

Balancing my schedule has easily been the hardest part of this experience. As a full-time student who is also working and participating in the internship, finding ways to ensure that I am putting maximum effort into everything and am getting the most out of all of my experiences has been incredibly overwhelming at times. I've gotten more consistent with using a calendar that keeps all of my responsibilities clearly outlined and asking for help when I need it rather than trying to tough it out.Ìý

What advice would you give students who want to make the most out of their internship experience?

Lean on the people around you. Your mentors are there to help, and they want to see you succeed. Your support system outside the internship is also just as important. And allow yourself some leeway to be human. Putting 110% effort into everything all the time isn't possible.Ìý

Find an internship that you are truly passionate about and putting in the work won't feel like an extra burden on your already busy student schedule. As long as you care about the work that you are doing and you're truly putting in your best effort, everyone around you can see it and you can make a difference. Internships with the right organization are so incredibly rewarding in so many ways.Ìý