The work environment at AWDF is very collaborative. I was fortunate to participate in the mid-year review and understand the organization as a whole, as well as its relationships with its multiple stakeholders. AWDF is committed to transparency, accountability and the monitoring and evaluation of its activities. It was enlightening to watch presentations from all the teams, from the Capacity Building Unit and Communications to the Finance department, and see how connected and complimentary they are. Another highlight of the internship has been the site visits to grantee organizations. By partaking in some of them, I was able to hear about the accomplishments and challenges of philanthropy, from the people making the change on the ground. It was inspiring to see how passionate and invested the people working in these organizations are.

My main task as the Capacity Building Unit Intern is to document the impact of the Capacity Building Program since its inception. Nafi Chinery, the Capacity Building Specialist, gave me the scope of my work and let me develop my own process to collect information. I conceptualized a grantee questionnaire sent to 100 organizations, in order to assess the changes undertaken after their participation in the Capacity Building Program activities. I also interviewed staff members and the CEO, which allowed me to paint a broader picture of the capabilities, lessons learned and the way forward for the Program. Another contribution was the translation of strategic organizational documents into Portuguese, such as the Grant-Making Application Guidelines.

I come from a family of many women and attend a women’s college. Therefore, the presence of outstanding women leaders in this office felt very familiar from the start. The staff is friendly and open, which allows for my questions on topics ranging from the nonprofits and international organizations to Ghanaian culture and work-life balance. I am glad to have found new colleagues and mentors who I can count on while taking the next steps in my professional development. This internship has broadened my understanding of the nonprofit sector and has showed me that this is a career I would enjoy pursuing. I will leave with fresh ideas and new possibilities in mind. I definitely recommend interning with the African Women’s Development Fund. It has been an enriching experience, in the personal, professional and academic levels. I am very thankful for this opportunity and I will dearly miss my AWDF sisters!

-Raquel Helen Silva

International Relations ‘14

Mount Holyoke College