When I first started my internship, I knew that working in the Communications Department at Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. (AKF USA) was going to be a good fit for me. As a biology and English major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I had a passion for both writing and global health. But I had no idea just how perfectly the internship would combine my strong background in English with my interest in nonprofit work.

At AKF USA, I have been given the opportunity to help the Communications Department convey the amazing impact of AKF USA’s development projects through stories, photographs and social media. On a day-to-day basis, the internship has involved working with others in the department to complete tasks such as writing and posting content on the website, blog and social media.

I have also been able to help the department with media-related tasks like monitoring, compiling and disseminating media information about Aga Khan Foundation and PartnershipsInAction. Participating in training sessions for the local media teams and helping to produce media materials, such as press releases, has taught me a lot about marketing and media relations for fundraising events.
One of the most valuable aspects of the internship was the opportunity to travel last October to Dallas Partnership Walk. After participating in media webinars for the volunteers and learning about all of the amazing activities they had planned for their events, it was very valuable to see the preparation transform into a successful fundraising and awareness event. The PartnershipsInAction participants make an important contribution to AKF USA projects, so it was also inspiring to see all of these dedicated volunteers and their families as they participated in the Walk event.

One of the challenging but most rewarding aspects of the internship was learning how to best translate programmatic reports or updates from the field into stories, social media posts and marketing materials that a general audience can relate to. In some cases, it was difficult to convey concisely and effectively the real-world impact, but I learned just how important it is to successfully present these updates to volunteers and donors across the country who invest in AKF USA’s work.

With the growing popularity of social media sites and the need for nonprofits to maintain clarity and transparency in conveying their work, this ability to clearly present information to a general audience is an invaluable skill.

The internship has been unbelievably successful in guiding me in the right direction towards my future career. Through the work that I have been given, the people I have met and the learning experiences that I have had, I am now more certain of my interests and more confident in my abilities. After my internship, I will stay in Washington, D.C. and work as the Resource Development Assistant with a nonprofit organization focused on public health and nutrition.