My Internship with ADRA Europe in Brussels

by Abla Essenam Odette Apedoh

Based on my studies in in International Social Sciences, I obtained a six-month internship with ADRA EUROPE, the European Regional Office, located in Brussels, Belgium.

ADRA EUROPE is a faith based organization. It is also a Regional Office of the ADRA network. The network constitutes of a global humanitarian agency which delivers relief and development to individuals in more than 118 countries. The ADRA EUROPE office supports 30 ADRA European offices in developing their capacity through partnership, funding and training, to promote the well-being of the communities in whom they work. It also serves as a point of contact between government institutions, such as the European Commission and the ADRA offices within Europe.

During my time at this institution, I was able to contribute to discussions related to development and social justice and to assist the organization through research in their initiative to better their emergency response worldwide. I also assisted individuals such as my supervisor and other colleagues in their day-to-day activities, such as reporting and organizing seminars.

Indeed, during my time with ADRA EUROPE, I learned a lot, particularly about governance, cooperation among development institutions, advocacy for social justice, emergency humanitarian response, trends in the NGO sector, the impact of civil society, leadership, fundraising or positive organizational culture.

I had a really good learning experience that exposed me to a new world of work, helping me to relate the theoretical themes to the practical situation on the ground, and made me discover my hidden potential, which I will further develop for my future carrier.