Teniele Gabriel 

Going into this internship, I had to keep an open mind as the role I was assigned, marketing and event planning, is one I have never attempted before. I hoped to achieve at least a basic understanding of how event planning works and how the social media side of marketing is used and implemented. I was excited to work with a group that serves culturally and linguistically diverse people, as this is an area I have had little connection with. I was looking forward to experiencing community involvement in a new way, connecting with new people, and having new experiences.

 

The internship experience with AfCAS was both challenging and rewarding. Being exposed to new experiences and the need to learn new skills was an exciting opportunity and one I greatly enjoyed. Mary was a fantastic supervisor who was so open to teaching and offering input and feedback on anything I needed help with. Her enthusiasm for her work is obvious and inspiring. Lu, the project admin and planner, was another inspiring presence to work with. Although she was only here for 10 weeks of my internship, she was an incredible colleague to work with. Her drive to make both the office environment and the volunteer experience welcoming was beautiful to behold and amazing to experience. Overall, I found my internship at AfCAS to be an extraordinary opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive, community-focused environment.

 

During my internship, I learnt how much work is involved in planning and running an event. It is so much more involved than I could have expected, but it is also such a rewarding experience to see all that hard work pay off. I learnt how connected the community in a not-for-profit environment can and has to be. Generous amounts of communication and time are required to keep every part of the process smooth and continuous; there is always a question to ask, or some information to gather. I learnt how enthusiastically people with a community mindset donate their time and energy to help and support those around them. I feel blessed to have been involved, even for the short time I was here.

 

The highlight of my internship was the wonderful opportunity not only to attend the event we planned, but also to be part of the presentation team on the day. It was so lovely to be involved in this way and to see all our hard work pay off.

Thank you, Mary and AfCAS, for being such a warm, welcoming, open, and insightful experience. I deeply value the time spent with you and the lasting impact you make in our community. Your dedication inspires me, and I leave this internship grateful, motivated, and excited to apply what I have learned.