WORKING WORLD
BY SIVIWE CINGO
My virtual
internship
Siviwe Cingo undertook a virtual internship recently, working remotely from South Africa for Education Above All, an organisation based in Doha, Qatar. What is your area of study? There is less pressure, as compared to the traditional internship where you might feel pressured by even the presence of management.
I am currently a master’s candidate in the University of Cape Town’s BEd programme, specialising in applied linguistics and literacy studies. In addition, I am a recipient of the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, administered by the UCT. The scholarship requires a student to undergo a six week internship of their choice.
Where did you intern, and what was your role? I applied at Education Above All (based in Doha) through the African Careers Network (ACN) for an internship offered by the Internet Free Education Resource Bank (IFERB), which is a resource of Education Above all organisation. I was a Student Project Designer and Developer. For the internship I had to design student-led projects that align with the curriculum. These projects are then used as resources that serve as a remote solution for learning without using the internet. The purpose is for education to be accessed even by a child who is from an underserved context, ensuring learning continuity.
How do you feel the experience differed from a traditional internship? A virtual internship allows you to work from the comfort of your home or at any place besides the company’s office. There is less pressure, as compared to the traditional internship where you might feel pressured by even the presence of management. One of the greatest benefits of a virtual CAREERS SERVICE GUIDE 2021 / 83
