Meera Govind: Human Rights internship programme review and rating.

Meera Govind: Human Rights internship programme mid programme update.

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In , Meera (from United Kingdom) completed a 34 week internship programme with Bridging Gaps in the amazing city of Cape Town, South Africa. The primary career area of Meera's internship programme was Human Rights.

Meera's mid stay check in!

SUMMARY

Overview of Meera's internship programme:

Year:
Duration:
34
weeks
Location:
South Africa
Prog Choice:
CareerFocus:
Social justice, Refugee work
Nationality:
Status:
Undergraduate
Institute:
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KEY INSIGHT

Meera's detailed ratings

See a breakdown

Here's how Meera rated the different aspects of her Human Rights internship programme.

Overall Rating: 10/10
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Meera's detailed review of her experience.

01
Placement & programme experience
02
Location experience
03
Bridging Gaps' services & support experience
Placement & Programme
What were your reasons for wanting to complete a Human Rights internship programme in South Africa?

I had visited Cape Town once before and fell in love with it! The lifestyle is what drew me to applying for an internship program here and I wanted to experience life in another city after graduating!

What kind of internship experience were you initially looking for?

My interest in human rights, specifically women had grown in my final year at university. This pushed me into finding an opportunity that would further my understanding about an NGO environment; their policy frameworks and how effective their approach stands.

How did your actual internship placement compare to your ideal internship experience? ?

My actual internship was exactly that! I worked at Embrace Dignity, a women’s rights NGO advocating to abolish prostitution and assist those who want to exit the system. I was involved in their legal advocacy projects which was such a great opportunity!

Did you receive sufficient levels of supervision and guidance from your colleagues at your host organisation?

While Bridging Gaps did mention that Cape Town work culture is generally more relaxed, it took a while to adjust to the environment of an NGO. It can come across as unstructured at first. However, I found that this gave me more flexibility to evaluate what projects I felt my skills would work for. So the level of supervision was present, but the majority of the time is was independent work followed by frequent discussions.

Were you given adequate responsibilities during your internship?

Yes, once I found the projects that I was super passionate about, they were able to trust me with it and always took my opinion into consideration when coming to a final decision. I was always eager to engage with them on various other projects. This led me to establish a great relationship with the team!

Did taking part in your internship challenge you and help develop your skills?

Do you feel that you were given the opportunity to make a valuable contribution to your local host organisation?

Yes for sure!

Overall, was this international internship a worthwhile experience that will help you achieve your career goals?

Yes! This line of work deals with vulnerable people of society which can be tough to be in. However, I focused on a positive note and realised why this NGO was so significant. It was there to radically change their reality. I became more aware of the importance of always engaging and asking questions, debating challenging ideas, and advancing my research skills specifically with South African law! This hugely impacted my personal life and shaped my future career goals!

Location
What fears did you have before coming to with Bridging Gaps?

I think my main fear was adjusting to another country far away from home! But with the help of family around and Bridging Gaps, I felt so comfortable and settled in really quickly!

What do you think about those fears now?

Already trying to figure out when I can come back!!

After spending some time in the city, what is your impression of Cape Town?

I LOVED IT! The people, beaches, wine, and markets! There is a never-ending list of activities to do! Most importantly though the breath-taking scenery and mountains always left me in awe of this city!

Would you recommend Cape Town as a worthwhile and enjoyable place to visit?

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! It will be one of the best decisions you will make!

Service & Support
Did Bridging Gaps help you prepare for your trip sufficiently? E.g. placement search, communications, mentoring?

From the minute I had been in touch with Lucie about applying, she made sure that the placement I was looking for matched perfectly! From then I had full faith in them as they always kept me up to date and briefed me on what to expect when I arrived! Bridging Gaps provided one of the best services I have experienced so far!

How was your experience of Bridging Gaps while you were on the ground in ?

They really take care of you, make sure that you’ve settled in well and assist you wherever they can!

What was the best feature of the Bridging Gaps Concierge internship programme?

The activities and dinners with other interns were always fun!

Did Bridging Gaps help you prepare for your trip sufficiently? E.g. placement search, communications, mentoring?

From the minute I had been in touch with Lucie about applying, she made sure that the placement I was looking for matched perfectly! From then I had full faith in them as they always kept me up to date and briefed me on what to expect when I arrived! Bridging Gaps provided one of the best services I have experienced so far!

Would you recommend pursuing a Human Rights internship programme in Cape Town with us to others?

YES 100%!

In what ways could our internship programmes be improved?

Before you applied, how did you feel about the programme fees?

Having completed your placement and had the experiences you've have, what do you think about the fees now?

Well worth it! :)

What would you say to someone that is considering an internship here but is concerned about the fees?

It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that you’re investing in and I personally found it worthwhile!! From the internship learning experience and all the activities they offer; Bridging Gaps make sure you get the full experience you’re looking for! Thank you, Lucie and Luigi for everything!!

Anything else you would like to add?

Check out our Human Rights programme

Click below to see more a more detailed description of our programme to see if it can give you the career boost you're looking for.

Human Rights Internship Programmes

Challenge yourself, work on your personal development, learn from dedicated and passionate colleagues and assist an inspirational organisation in their work towards social justice and the promotion of human rights. Our human rights internships give you the chance to make a genuine difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable members of South African society whilst gaining a valuable insight into what daily life working for NGOs or advocacy organisations is really like.

Internship Focus Options:

Social justice, Refugee work

Women’s rights

Healthcare

Youth empowerment

Human Rights Internship Programmes
IN PERSON
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