MDP Students: Making Partnerships Work in 2020

Due to the pandemic, school life (like many other aspects of our lives) has been turned upside down.  We have gone from face-to-face learning models to online methods that are both in real time and not in real time.  All MDP programs have also had to adjust their 2020 three-month or longer-term field practicum model.  When MDP students were asked about their MDP experiences during the pandemic, students at Lund University, Sweden, shared some thoughts and pictures.  Their anecdotes speak to experiences that, although may include some challenges, were, overall, enriching learning experiences.

Lorenz Peh shares, “I did my internship for the LUMID programme at the Swedish civil society organization FormCiv last fall.  With around 150 members, ForumCiv represents the largest platform organisation for civil society in Sweden.  As a strategic partner to Sweden’s development agency Sida, the organisation works as a grants administrator, capacity developer, [and] rights advocator in Sweden and in over 70 countries abroad.  During my time in Stockholm, I supported the ‘Impact and Quality Assurance Unit’ through strategic advice on programming and assisted ForumCiv’s efforts to mainstream environmental considerations throughout all their work by drafting the Environmental and Climate Change Policy and its implementation plan.  One aspect I found remarkable about ForumCiv’s work is that all activities originate from a rights-based approach, and a close dialogue with communities and partners in the field is central to anything the organisation does.

“The picture in my co-worker’s garden where we jammed together (or at least pretended to feel comfortable holding an instrument, as I did) as part of a (corona-safe) team-building day during the summer at the beginning of my internship.  Despite the tightening restrictions and increasingly less time [of being] physically present in the office, my unit and ForumCiv as a whole managed to make me feel [being] part of a team, and working from home [is] an engaging experience.  Regular check-ins within the unit to discuss progress and potential issues; weekly mixed virtual fikas (Swedish afternoon coffee breaks), where I had the possibility of meeting co-workers from around the world; online dance; [and] sport and meditation sessions definitely helped to connect with co-workers and boosted work morale!  Next to the amazing work that ForumCiv is doing to enable others to be agents of their own change, what I also take with me from my time in Stockholm is the importance a good working environment and open communication has on creating an atmosphere where you are encouraged to do your best and dare to ask critical questions.”

Nguyen Vo Luong Binh, shares a similar experience, as well as lessons on improvisation.  “Last summer was one of the strangest summers in my life.  Being from Vietnam, living and studying in Sweden and then doing internship remotely with the UN-Habitat team, I have never felt so globally connected.  The internship, which is called an ‘outternship’ by my supervisor, has become an unconventional and interesting experience.  Fortunately, there is only a one-hour difference between Lund, where I’m based, and Nairobi, so I was able to participate in most Microsoft Team calls and assist the team and our consultants on time.  I’m also thankful that my teammates are spread across the globe so that we can utilize our time as much as possible.  The feeling of being a part of a ‘24-hour team’ is somewhat amazing.  Also, I think to make a successful virtual internship, understanding and connection are super important.  My supervisor and I have arranged weekly check-in calls so that we can share reflections on past work and plans for upcoming work.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has surely changed my working environment.  Since I have to work remotely, I have made my apartment more work-friendly so that I can work in my living room, [the] bedroom or even [the] kitchen.  As I’m sharing the apartment with others, we have made a small workstation where all of us can work together.  However, I still hope, one day, when this pandemic is over, I would have [the] chance to visit the UN-Habitat office in Nairobi, enjoy the beautiful nature there, grab coffee with my colleagues, talk to them in person and thank them for all the support during this ‘outternship.’”

Fernando Damazio Dos Santos, was able to physically relocate to his field practicum site.  “My name is Fernando Damazio dos Santos (he/him), Brazilian, Swedish Institute Scholar and MSc candidate in International Development and Management (LUMID) at Lund University.  I would like to share some insights from my internship experience during the current pandemic.  First, I must acknowledge the privileged condition that prevented me from suffering the negative impacts of the pandemic and made it possible to pursue my goals.  About the internship, fortunately, I managed to secure a placement during my field semester to work with amazing experts at UNDP on the theme I am personally engaged in and passionate about, LGBTI Inclusion.  Yet there was a pandemic separating me and my team; actually, when I started my contract in September, the team was dispersed between many cities: New York City, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Istanbul, and Malmö (me :)).  So I first worked with my colleagues virtually for three months.  Zoom, Teams, and WhatsApp calls tried to shorten our distance, and there was some sincere bonding, especially with the other interns; we were so excited about the opportunity but also worried about how to deal with colleagues and supervisors we just met online.  In November, I had the experience of being one of the few on the team to be working remotely (in the Swedish winter), while most of my colleagues were reunited in sunny Cape Town for our strategic planning meeting.  I used a virtual background of the same city to make it a bit funny.  Eventually, in December, with all the due safety measures and a lot of help from friends and work colleagues, I managed to relocate to Johannesburg to continue my internship on-site with my team.  It was a funny and happy moment of encounters, laughing at silly things such as seeing how tall someone is and their body language, [having] more relaxed conversation topics, and so on.  It made me feel more confident at work; I felt I was being more useful, [was] listened to, and [was] more me.  Mutual trust is evolving, and I am carrying out my field research aligned with our work.  Even my Christmas was with my intern colleague, now a dear friend, and her welcoming family.  Many of us did or are doing remote internships and placements.  Based on my experience, I can say that the relationships and friendships you develop with your colleagues virtually are real!  Some of us might have the same opportunity I had to meet my colleagues after a virtual phase.  Anyway, those relationships and shared emotions are true.”

As Emelie Staffas puts it, “In early August, I had accepted that I would not go to Armenia for my internship.  I was admitted to a virtual internship instead, but then fate (?) happened.  In 10 days, Armenia opened their borders.  I bought flight tickets, rented out my apartment, and landed in Yerevan.  However, within one month of my arrival, the violence in Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh escalated and lasted for 44 long days.  Despite this, I had incredible experiences in Yerevan.  I encountered a culture I knew nothing about, and I have built relationships with people I would never have met had I stayed in Lund.  I was privileged to work with Pyunic, an NGO that focuses on providing all-encompassing rehabilitation and support to people with disabilities, and see their grassroots work up close.  So how is it to travel abroad to a place that you have no previous relationship with during a pandemic, to a place that finds itself in a violent existential crisis?  It’s hard.  Paralyzing, even.  Mostly, I could not relate to my colleagues and friends’ situation, as much as I empathized with them.  My journey has given me lots of food for thought and made my world go topsy-turvy.  With that said, I am happy to be home in my comfortable apartment in Lund, and I look forward to going to Armenia again soon.”