AIESECer's experience: Joan Avit

 By: Unknown    03:56  AIESECers Experience, GIP, ICX   No comments

Joan came to Jyväskylä for a GIP internship at Agora research center in 2013. This is her reflection of the experience.

"Am Joan Avit, From Tanzania. I Studied Bachelor in Economics from Mzumbe University in Tanzania graduated in 2012, then went for one year leadership role in AIESEC in Ethiopia national board while working as a consultant in one of the institutes from June 2012 to June 2013. I knew about AIESEC in my first year of campus, from advert of the Info sessions they had posted around the campus and being briefed about how the info session was and about the organization from one of my best friend who attended the info session. I came to Finland to participate in the professional internship offered in Jyväskylä, Finland through AIESEC Global Internship Programme.

From January 2013 I started planning my next step, I wanted to further challenge myself and wished that my next experience to be out of Africa. I however still wished for a unique project that I can still relate to Africa in one way or another. As I was in search of different internship opportunities offered by AIESEC, having known my interest in research and something related to Africa a friend recommended the GIP from Jyväskylä, Finland, which was to deal with desk research on African countries but done in Agora center research institute. I choose Finland and this internship in particular because I knew that Finland and the institute in particular is among the best in Research and Development hence believed that I would learn a lot through taking up a GIP in search an environment in a short interval of time and with it I would also have inspiration to help figure out my next step in my academic growth/path. 

While traveling I have learnt to have as minimal expectations as possible so as to be able to enjoy whatever comes in the way with it, so have to admit I had minimal expectations of Finland as a country. However I ensured I was aware of the basic and general information about the project I was going to work in and what I was going to do and some basic details such as logistical information, basic language words, financial system, do and don’t etc, just the basics I thought might be essential in one way or another. I however tried to learn as much as I could about the project so as to have better contribution to it within the short limited of time I would be there. I expected the project to be challenging (in a good way) but most of all help me grow personally and professionally in the research field through exploring me to the research world.

I loved this project because the Project descriptions did not only match but surpassed expectations. I was mainly conducting desk research on the educations system focusing in pre-primary to primary education in selected Africa countries. And additionally designed a feasibility plan on GraphoGame approach in Tanzania primary schools. With external reality (apart from project related matter), even with minimal expectation I was still not sure if I would easily cop up with new environment with completely different realities from what I was used to. However this happened to be easier than expected from day one as I was having extra ordinary support and assistance The AIESEC EB Team and other AIESECer, The project team and any external I would need assistance from at any encounter.

Joan and members of LC Jyväskylä

They were a lot of memorable moments right from the first welcoming party which was prepared on the same day I arrived. This really helped me feel at home. I got to partially experience two seasons (summer and winter) and  fully experience Autumn. I was so happy to see snow and the autumn colors ( I love nature). Other memorable moments from my stay in Finland were visiting Lappajärvi (I will always be thankful to Talvikki and her wonderful family for this J) and visiting other places in Jyväskylä such as Tiiakatemia and Christmas market. I also had lots of conversations with the project team at the office.

Been the first time in Europe, it’s almost like every day had its special experience with something new to learn, the advancement in technology and the way its best integrated to make life easier. Environmental consciousness and looking into alternative possibilities that maybe if would have been used in some of the African countries could help in solving problem like traffic jam, health etc. 

I would recommend anyone to come to Finland and Jyväskylä in particular because its one of the cities with the best in it, lots of multicultural youth interaction and many university students too - hence a lot to learnJ. And most of all the people are very friendly to make your experience as smooth as it should be."