”The internship at YAD ry has strengthened me both professionally and personally.”
For five months I was an intern at the Finnish organization YAD ry, an organization that is dedicated to drug prevention among young people. During this period, I worked with my supervisor Iida and had the opportunity to help her with her tasks.
My tasks were very diverse, which made it an exciting and educational experience. I worked on two large projects: international ‘Chill Pill’ project and Erasmus ‘Youth Work’ project. I also did support tasks such as developing educational materials in English, informing young people about drug prevention and networking with organizations. An important part of my internship was also leading two youth groups, where I was able to practice communication and respond to the needs of young people.
The internship taught me to work independently and flexibly. The organization put a lot of trust in me and gave me a lot of freedom, allowing me to decide how I wanted to approach certain tasks. This not only taught me how to organize my work in the best possible way, but also where and when I could do the most efficient work. This freedom helped me to become independent and helped me to grow and develop professionally and personally.
The challenge I faced during my internship was to communicate in English. In the beginning, I felt insecure because of the language barrier, especially when it came to formal or group discussions. As the internship went on, my language skills improved, and my confidence increased.
In general, I can look back on a very educational and valuable time. Not only have I been able to deepen my knowledge of drug prevention and youth work, but I have also learnt a lot about myself, my skills and my role as a future social worker. The internship at YAD ry has strengthened me both professionally and personally. I am grateful for the opportunities and support I received within the organization.
Best wishes,
Louise Cnudde
