My Journey of Growth and Discovery

My Journey of Growth and Discovery-A blog by Diya Singh about her internship in SADRAG

  Introduction: –

Internships are always the stepping stone for a student. It helps student develop personally and professionally. Internships are not just about gaining work experience but also about contributing to a cause that aligns with one’s values and also creates a meaningful impact. I feel that I am privileged that I got an opportunity to join the NGO named SADRAG in Noida. Social and Development Research and Action Group is a non-profit organization that aims in equality of life for all, and envisions a world of dignity and self-respect especially for women and children. As a first-year student, it gives me immense pleasure that my university gave me this opportunity at such a young age to do an internship in a NGO that works towards upliftment of the underprivileged children and women. I want to share my overall experience through this blog, emphasising the invaluable lessons I discovered and the positive effects I saw while working for this organisation. As I go on a path to unveil the realities of working in an organization, I am equally happy to share the challenges I faced during this time.

1. The pre- excitement of an internship: My university requirement was to do a 4-week internship and the main purpose of them to give us this opportunity was to understand and recognize the socio- economic realities of our country. I was very excited as I was embarking on a new journey. Initially I was planning to do my internship on animal welfare, but my parents told me about SADRAG and that they deal in women livelihood and child rights, I researched and read about this NGO and finally I accepted and wanted to go ahead with this organization for my internship. I then made my CV in two days and then sent it to the organization so that they get to know my experiences and strengths.
2. Diving into the work: The founder and director of SADRAG, Dr. Mala Bhandari, led and supported me throughout this journey. Without her encouragement and assistance, I don’t believe I could have completed my internship successfully. Working in an organisation and observing Mala ma’am do things on her own is a terrific learning experience for me as I intend to pursue business in the future. I was learning about the work and the organization’s operations. I was primarily doing grassroots work. I was doing voluntary work in a Noida village named nithari which was close to SADRAG office. I was tasked with engaging in various activities and teaching underprivileged children, so that they can study, play, learn and then get admission in schools. In addition to this, I was also assisting with the NGO’s second area of focus, which is women’s economic empowerment. These are migrant women who come to learn sewing and create goods using worn-out and tattered clothing, often from their villages. This NGO provides these ladies with a means of support and some uplift. This new initiative primarily sought to provide these migrant women with a means of livelihood. I was instructed to research this work’s marketing field. The means by which we can advertise their products widely and inform a sizable audience about the story of these women. I volunteered in an organization for the first time and this gave me a good learning about the socio- economic conditions in our country and the unique story of these underprivileged women and children. Being privileged, doesn’t make us understand the true reality of our country until we dive down, see, learn and help. Other than the work I mentioned, I also helped the organization in looking after the health and nutrition of the children. For this I learnt few basics from my mother as she is a paediatrician. My mother provided various medicines and medical equipment which can help the NGO look after the health of these children. By the help of the weighing scale, I planned to make a record of the weight of all the children coming to the NGO, this was mainly done to know their weight according to their age, which can help us give these children the right nutrition. Recently, SADRAG had its annual function celebration in Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Noida. I assisted my centre, Nithari Village. I examined the general operation of the centre, making certain that all activities such as dance and play were conducted smoothly. In addition, I wrote the script for nukaad natak. I was also given the opportunity to serve as the event’s anchor. This was my first time hosting an event, and it brought me a lot of joy and confidence in myself that I can do this work well.
3. The learning: Working in this organisation has only taught me new things. This work experience has made me realise the hard realities that many people suffer in our country. I also learnt how an organization works and help these underprivileged children and women by providing them with support. I was guided and mentored by Mala ma’am throughout my journey which made me more responsible and I was motivated to work more with dedication. My biggest learning while doing my internship was how to help the people of our country who are in need and how to treat them equal with full respect. While working in nithari village as a volunteer, I never felt I was working there, the children, teachers and women always made me feel like a family. Seeing all of them smile whenever I came for my work, always made my day happy and full of joy. This internship not only helped me shaped personally but also professionally. I learnt new concepts and skills which helped me implement it in practical work environments. This internship helped me understand certain communication norms, work etiquettes and how to work and learn with professionals. Lastly, working in this organization helped me improve my time management skills and helped me adapt to newer work environments.
4. Challenges: I believe that there is a lot to learn while working in an organization. But I feel everyone faces challenges and difficulties in doing certain tasks, which I believe is very natural and at the end we learn from those hurdles and make ourselves better for the future. I did face few challenges while working. The first challenge that I experienced was adjusting to the people around me. I am a friendly person who enjoys interacting with others, but it was challenging to communicate with the Sarthak women at first owing to language barriers and the fact that I was a new volunteer. Gradually, I interacted with them, which helped both the women and me feel at ease and provided a solution to my problem. The second challenge that I faced during my internship was managing and doing multiple tasks together. I was assisting both children and Sarthak women at the same time which made it a bit difficult for me to complete tasks but as I said I learnt how to manage my time, which helped me complete my tasks. The final hurdle I encountered on my journey was that it was my first time working in an organisation, and I was anxious about how I would manage among the professionals and whether I would be able to live up to the responsibilities. I felt out of place at first because I was in a new atmosphere, but I gradually adjusted and worked with the people around me.
5. Lessons for future: Every student benefits from an internship in a non-profit organisation. This experience assists the student in developing himself personally and professionally for the future. Volunteering to learn about our country’s socioeconomic situations will always help me in the future to perform good things and assist those in need. Accepting challenges and learning from them made me a better person overall. Working in this organisation taught me new things at every stage and helped me progress. Lastly, working with professionals gave me opportunity to learn from them and understand the dynamics and the working environment of an organization. As my internship drew to a close, I realized that my experience was not just a temporary engagement but the beginning of a lifelong commitment to social change. Despite the fact that my internship was just for four weeks, I plan to continue working and volunteering at this NGO in the near future.

Conclusion: –

My internship with SADRAG focused on women empowerment, livelihood, and child rights, which was a transformative experience that shaped my perspective and ignited a passion for social change. Witnessing the impact of the organization’s activities and being a part of a group effort to empower marginalised communities left an unforgettable imprint on my journey. I feel through our collective efforts we can create a more inclusive and just world for all. We come into this world to become better people and to give as much as we can to society. My internship experience was an unforgettable adventure that exceeded my expectations and provided me with invaluable skills, insights and personal growth that will help me shape my future endeavours. As I step forward in making my career in the business field, I carry with me the lessons and connections forged during this transformative journey. Through this exposure, I will encourage myself to contribute in the social change so that it gives me an opportunity for self- discovery and growth and can bring about a positive change in the society.