Every year, third year BSc (Hons) International Development students do their work placements all over the world. This showcase was held in the North Wing Council Room on Friday, 31st of October and highlighted the achievements of the students' placements. This year, 12 students travelled to different countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, while 4 spent part or all of their time in Ireland. Students worked for four months in a wide range of development projects, gaining experience that will stay with them for a lifetime. We are very grateful to all our partner organisations and to Irish Aid’s Civil Society Fund who helped make all this possible.
Antonia Schoepf | Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) | Hue, Vietnam
"I did my internship with SRD in Hue, Central Vietnam. From the moment I landed in Hue, I felt at home there. The city is quite small for Vietnamese standards, and Vietnamese people say that life is slower in Hue than anywhere else in Vietnam. (VM075), which is about supporting people with disabilities and encouraging their independence and active participation in society. I really liked the project, especially the community-based class which is impactful in giving children with disabilities access to informal learning settings and combating their social isolation. My tasks were diverse, ranging from graphic design to statistics, and I also had the chance to attend two training sessions. I learned a lot about myself during placement, for example that I like management and statistics, dislike translating, and love having noodle soup for breakfast. I had amazing luck with my host family, they are the most loving people and would go back any day just to see them."
Orla Murray | Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) | Hue, Vietnam
"I spent five months with the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD), one of Vietnam’s leading NGOs promoting climate resilience and sustainable rural livelihoods. Based in Da Nang and later Hanoi, I worked on translating documents, creating an executive summary of key projects, updating the Hanoi Green Office Guide, co-developing a Volunteer Guidebook, and assisting with the SRD website redesign."
Cornelia Hauch Skovmand | Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) | Hanoi, Vietnam
"I did my internship in SRD’s Hanoi office. I was working on two projects, and the two Project Managers, Nguyen Van Ngoc Hien and Lê Hồng Liên, were my supervisors. My main tasks were developing communication materials, like Stories of Change and Project Newsletters. I got to go on a field trip to Son La for four days, where I attended a training, visited a few farms and visited a forest where they had planted trees as part of the project. I had a great time on placement, as I really enjoyed living in Vietnam, and the office setting in Hanoi suited me well. My colleagues weren’t necessarily very proficient in English or very talkative, but for me it worked well to be a little independent and by myself. When Orla arrived, we had a great time together and worked collaboratively on a task. We became friends with a few of our coworkers, and we were on good terms with everyone in the office."
Tashdid Sadat Ali | Grameen Bank | Dhaka, Bangladesh
"During my internship at Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, I had the opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the workings of one of the world’s most renowned microfinance institutions. My experience involved observing and supporting a range of activities that highlighted the Bank’s role in empowering low-income communities, particularly women. I learned about Grameen Bank’s structure, microcredit model, and Yunus’s social business principles. I accompanied field officers to rural areas, where I observed how loan groups were formed, how weekly meetings were conducted, and how women borrowers shared their progress and challenges. This allowed me to see how microcredit (small, collateral free loans) not only provides financial resources, but also fosters solidarity, confidence, and decision-making power among women. Additionally, I engaged with staff to understand how policies and programmes are designed and monitored, and I reviewed documents and reports. This internship gave me invaluable exposure to the intersection of microfinance, poverty alleviation, and women’s empowerment, deepening my understanding of development practices and shaping my interest in pursuing further research in this field."
Aoife Dow | Churchfield Community Trust | Cork, Ireland
"I completed my placement with Churchfield Community Trust (CCT) in Cork. Having grown up in Cork, I was excited to explore the role of community development in my own area. My placement allowed me to apply theory in practice while gaining valuable professional and personal skills. I had the opportunity to manage projects, work with a variety of stakeholders, and oversee the completion of CCT’s new website, ensuring it is fully accessible for all users. One of the most important lessons I learned was the value of sustainable personal development, supporting service users in ways that are practical and respectful of their individual needs. No two people or experiences are the same and learning to adapt to this was my biggest take away from my placement. My time at CCT has equipped me with confidence, empathy, and skills that extend far beyond the classroom."
Sophie Callinan | Advocaid/Laughter Africa | Freetown, Sierra Leone
"During my time in Sierra Leone, I had the unique opportunity to work with two organisations. My first internship was with AdvocAid, where I served as a Communications Intern. This role introduced me to the dynamics of a professional workplace and allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. I then joined Laughter Africa, a charity dedicated to supporting street-connected children and reuniting them with their families. Although my official role was again in communications, I quickly found myself wearing many hats, social worker, hairdresser, makeup artist, painter, photographer whatever the day required. The work opened my eyes to the harsh realities many children face globally, an experience that will stay with me forever. Beyond work, I was lucky to find a brilliant group of friends who made my stay unforgettable. We spent weekends exploring, often unwinding on the beach with a cold Star in hand. It was a time of growth, connection, and unforgettable memories, and I’ll always be grateful for the chance to experience it. Tenki, Tenki!!"
Lorien Vreede | Advocaid/Laughter Africa | Freetown, Sierra Leone
"How di bodi? I was in Freetown, Sierra Leone (west-Africa) and did two internships; one with AdvocAid, and one with Laughter Africa. Freetown, or Salone, is a beautiful city in its variety of beaches, foods, nature and culture. With keke’s (tuktuks) and motor bikes nearly driving into you every three seconds, car honks going off all the time, and megaphones selling goods on repeat; you are surrounded in a nonstop busy environment. For two months I was with AdvocAid, as fundraising intern I applied to two grants, created donor matrixes, and participated in community outreaches. The last month I was with Laugher Africa, working in the field with street children. Here I acted as social worker, photographer and fundraiser. I aided with the provision of medication, food, shelter, vocational trainings like hairdressing, make-up and pedicures, sports like cultural dance and reintegration into the education system or job market. I faced many challenges during our time in Sierra Leone… but I had an amazing group of friends that got me through it! And I am delighted to have experienced it all!"
Brendan Long | Serve | Cork, Ireland
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"During my placement with SERVE, I had the opportunity to experience both the administrative and grassroots dimensions of international development. Based in Cork and later overseas in Cebu, Philippines, the internship provided a wellrounded introduction to the workings of a development NGO. In Ireland, I contributed to data management, donor relations, and volunteer training, which strengthened my technical and organisational skills. I learned the importance of precision in handling sensitive information and saw first-hand how technology supports accountability and sustainability in the non-profit sector. Equally rewarding were the opportunities to support training workshops, where I developed communication and facilitation skills while engaging with volunteers preparing for placements abroad. Locally, I joined community initiatives such as the Mahon Community Garden and youth camps, which offered valuable lessons in empowerment and participatory approaches. The most transformative experience was working alongside the Badjao community in Cebu. From construction tasks to daily interactions, I learned the value of humility, respect, and solidarity in development work. The placement deepened my intercultural awareness, adaptability, and teamwork, while reaffirming my commitment to a career in international development."
Hannah Morrissey | Fading Cultures | Jaipur, India
"For my placement, I worked with Fading Culture,, an ethnographic storytelling magazine dedicated to documenting and amplifying the voices, cultures and traditions of communities across the world. I was based in Jaipur, India and stayed with Bodh Shiksha Samiti, an NGO in Rajasthan promoting education for marginalised children. I had the incredible opportunity to explore the intersection of cultural heritage, modernisation, and development challenges in India. Based mainly in Rajasthan, I gained insight into the barriers faced by first-generation learners, especially girls navigating restrictive social expectations. At the same time, I researched how traditional music and crafts are being preserved and adapted by communities in response to changing markets. My first published article examined the women of the Langa and Manganiyar musician communities of the Thar Desert, access to education and the preservation of their musical heritage. Later research focused on Jaipur’s textile printing traditions and indigenous wool crafts in Himachal Pradesh, for which I coordinated my own field research trips to different textile centres in Jaipur and Himachal Pradesh. This placement was an invaluable chance to engage closely with communities, develop cultural awareness, and strengthen my ability to understand and communicate the cultures and traditions of different communities through writing and photography."
Camila Torres Coto Aguilar | Fading Cultures | West Sumatra, Indonesia
"During my work placement I was in West Sumatra, Indonesia, working for the magazine, Fading Cultures. Fading Cultures focuses on ethnographic storytelling through photojournalism to capture the stories of indigenous and minority communities around the world. Their goal is to amplify local communities’ voices by showcasing their traditions, culture, heritage and way of life. During my time in West Sumatra, I immersed myself in the culture of the Minangkabau, the largest ethnic group in West Sumatra. I travelled to 4 different villages in West Sumatra, and in each place, I learned immensely about Minang culture through my ethnographic research. I documented their local traditions, crafts, and culture, and witnessed how their heritage has been affected by globalisation and modernisation. Everything I learned throughout my work placement was such an eye-opening experience, and it was all possible because of the local community that helped me in West Sumatra. This placement was an invaluable experience, working alongside the local community and getting to experience their culture through an ethnographic lens."
Mara Bittmann | Apnalaya | Mumbai, India
"I did my work placement at Apnalaya in Mumbai, India. Apnalaya has worked with Mumbai’s urban poor for over 50 years. Their goal is to empower individuals and the community to help themselves through various initiatives across the themes of health and disability, education and livelihood, and citizenship and advocacy. I was part of the education and livelihood department where I documented people’s stories of change, especially of women entrepreneurs in Apnalaya programmes. With these stories, I created a coffee table book to showcase their stories and to show stakeholders the impact of Apnalaya‘s programmes. The livelihoods programme was expanded during my time there, so I was also tasked with creating a coherent workshop series for the set up and training of Community Childcare Centres and was also able to hold a workshop with the field staff. I also supported the education team in monitoring the quality of education projects and develop a new curriculum for their spoken English classes. I had a great time with Apnalaya in Mumbai. They provided me with the opportunity to apply the skills I learned in college in a real-world setting and believed in me expanding my skill set. I had a great mix of working in the main office and going out to the field offices and communities which gave me the opportunity to understand the circumstances Mumbai‘s urban poor live in and connect with community members."
Aoife O’Sullivan | Resource Centre for Interventions on Violence Against Women | Mumbai, India
"As part of my placement, I worked with the Resource Centre on Interventions for Violence Against Women (RCI-VAW), where I gained meaningful exposure to the field of gender justice. The experience deepened my understanding of the dynamics of gender-based violence and the importance of interventions. I was involved in assisting with advocacy, reports and a training program which strengthened my professional skills in working with survivors of violence."
Willow Uygur Morgan | Yoga and Sports with Refugees | Lesbos, Greece
"I did my placement with Yoga and Sport With Refugees (YSR) in Lesvos, Greece, where I worked as a Communications and Advocacy Intern. YSR is a grassroots NGO founded in 2017 with the mission of supporting displaced people through sport, physical activity, and community building. The organisation creates inclusive spaces where refugees and locals can connect, grow, and heal through shared movement and empowerment. In my role, I was responsible for creating digital content, managing social media platforms, and contributing to advocacy campaigns that highlighted YSR’s impact. I also supported event planning, photography, and safeguarding initiatives, ensuring that all communications respected the dignity and agency of participants. Working closely with a diverse team of staff, volunteers, and community members, I gained valuable insights into humanitarian communication, intercultural collaboration, and the transformative power of sport. This placement was a meaningful opportunity to apply creative skills within a humanitarian context and to contribute to an organisation that champions inclusion, resilience, and solidarity."
Eileen Shikuku | Yoga and Sports wih Refugees | Athens, Greece
"I did my internship in Yoga and Sports with Refugees (YSR). I was based in Athens, the capital city of Greece and was a part of the integration and inclusion team, focusing on the LGBTQIA+ community, youth, and people with disabilities. My role involved supporting engagement with these groups and identifying ways YSR could enhance its services and amenities to appeal to them. My tasks were very diverse, ranging from event planning and coordination to organising and attending meetings, to developing training and information materials. Throughout my time in YSR, I gained valuable insights into the humanitarian and development sector, learned from the diverse cultures and communities I was surrounded by, but I also discovered new personal and professional strengths and capabilities that I was not aware were hiding in me. I am very grateful to YSR and the team for my experience. I was part of an incredibly welcoming and supportive working community, and I will forever cherish the memories that I made on my placement. This placement not only contributed to my personal growth but also provided skills and experiences that I will carry into my professional future."
Sarah King | Brighter Communities Worldwide | Cobh, Ireland
"I did my placement with Brighter Communities Worldwide in Cobh, Co. Cork. Brighter Communities Worldwide is an Irish registered Charity, working in partnership with communities in Kenya since 2002. During my placement, I gained valuable insight into how volunteer-sending organisations operate, particularly through my engagement in volunteer training and an ethical communication course. These were the highlights of my placement. Although I wasn’t able to travel to Kenya during my placement, I hope to join one of their volunteer programmes in the future. The opportunity to work with an organisation both at home and abroad is unique and what initially drew me to the organisation. Since I was based in the Cobh office, most of my work involved proofreading, contributing to communication materials, and supporting various organisational tasks. Throughout my placement I always felt engaged and encouraged to think in new ways."