Last year, I had the privilege of interning with the Communications and Programmes teams at Paradigm Initiative. This experience has been a significant milestone in my professional journey, and I’m excited to share my reflections.
I resumed my role on January 15, 2024, and worked closely with the team to achieve our Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAG) in line with the organisation’s Strategic Management Plan (SMP) this meant collaboration with all sub-teams to complete different projects, primarily supporting the communications team to achieve organisational communication and impact goals. This entailed interacting with various stakeholders, developing strategic communication plans, and creating engaging content.
Through this process, I acquired a wealth of soft and hard skills, expanding my expertise in strategic and digital communication, project management and teamwork.
My internship cemented my interest in corporate communications and also sparked a passion for digital rights advocacy, particularly in the Global South. I became fascinated with the intersection of technology, human rights, and social justice. I am now keenly interested in issues such as data privacy, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and online gender-based violence.
Some of the key highlights of my internship include spearheading the production of The PIN podcast; a creative channel for discussions focusing on digital rights and inclusion in Africa and beyond. This allowed me to conduct in-depth research and host enlightening discussions with subject matter experts around digital rights issues that plague Africa and the way forward. I also provided research assistance on the Human Rights Due Diligence Toolkit for Small and Medium Tech Enterprises, a guide to help small and medium tech enterprises gauge the impact of their companies, products, and services on human rights. Lastly, I successfully managed the social media pages for Ripoti, a platform that allows individuals to report digital rights violations. I thoroughly enjoyed the process of creating multimedia content in English and French, leveraging social media to educate stakeholders on their rights.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to have worked with experts who mentored me, encouraged my creativity, and helped me grow as a professional. The team at Paradigm Initiative is dedicated, passionate, and committed to creating positive change. I learned so much from them, and I’ll always appreciate the experience.
Overall, my internship experience at Paradigm Initiative was invaluable. I honed my skills in communications, research, and project management while gaining a deeper understanding of digital rights and inclusion in Africa, and I’m committed to using my skills and knowledge to make a positive impact.
If you’re considering an internship at Paradigm Initiative, I highly recommend it! The organisation is doing critical work in the digital rights space, and the team is passionate and dedicated.
As I move forward in my career, I’ll always look back on my time at Paradigm Initiative with gratitude and appreciation. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m excited to see what the future holds!
Dinchi Ikpa was an Intern at Paradigm Initiative in 2024 supporting Communications and Programmes Departments