8. Blog – Looking back
We did a triple hug and looked at each other with tired eyes and messy hair and had one last big laugh before we walked out to meet our families in Copenhagen airport Sunday morning after an overnight flight from Uganda.
Cecilias, Charlottes and my internship has ended and so has our adventure. Not to be sad about it, but it is always hard to leave something good behind and Uganda, as you may already know, has been very good to us.
When I look back at my learning objectives now after the ending of my internship, I find it interesting how I imagined myself reaching them compared to how I really did it. So it is funny how you just have to go with it and take it all in. To keep an open mind and take a few sideways to reach the destination because I really found every experience, good and less good, as great learning experiences.
Getting familiar with the practical workings of a NGO and the working collaborations with other NGOs/organizations (e.g. The diabetes and heart federations) and the cooperation across borders.
I talked about getting familiar with the practical work of an NGO in my 5th blog, about the processes that lies within project and concept building and all that belongs, but what I found amazing is the collaboration with other organisations that exist and is needed. We have been lucky to work with UNCDA in some of their projects and activities such as the school project and InterAid outreach camps and also been invited to attend meetings with their member associations like the diabetes and heart federations. Furthermore, to be a part of the EANCDA conference where all the east African national alliances, the ministry of health Uganda, the global alliances and the Danish alliance where present and to see how they interact to reach a common goal.
These experiences have given me a picture of how all these organisations work together and how important it is for them to support each other in their individual work. NCDs being so interconnected makes their work, findings and results essential and sharable for each other.
Skills within promoting healthy consumptions patterns with available indigenous food commodities and with respect for local food culture.
This objective was met in different ways. But doing the office lunch project was probably the most fun and exciting way to promote their delicious indigenous food commodities. Our recipes will be shared on the EANCDA website and shared with the national alliances for inspiration. This was very practical and a very alternative way of working at the office, but it was a way to create good reflections and conversation about food habits and traditions.
We also developed a strategy of a primary school project with focus on healthy eating patterns and physical activity through fun and interactive learning. We hope to follow the project later.
Improving communication and advocating skills.
Here I need to highlight the outreach camps we did with InterAid. Here we were met by locals but mainly refugees of different nationalities so our communication skills were really put to the test. A translator was present so save us if we needed it though, but really interesting how far you come with body language. We did primary healthcare and advised for preventable methods against NCDs. Overall an amazing experience.
Communication skills cover various aspects and I feel like I have come across several situations where communication was essential and therefor used a lot. It has not been boring I tell you, neither at work or during our free time experiences with the locals.
Besides this, I have to mention the conference again. Their plans for national as well as global NCD advocacy was really inspiring and in general I felt I took a lot with me home from that weekend.
So overall, I pretty damn happy of the outcome of this internship and Uganda and its people has a special place in my heart! Hope all of you guys are good and can not wait to see you back at school!
