Aimi’s experience as a HerStart Program & Partnerships Fellow in Tanzania

Having the opportunity to be a part of HerStart’s fellowship as a 3-month Program & Partnerships Fellow has been pivotal for my career in the international development sector. Over this past summer, I worked in Zanzibar with two of the in-country partners, Mikunguni Youth Development Organization (MYDO) and the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports (MoY) Zanzibar. I was given the chance to see firsthand how partnerships play a crucial role in achieving sustainable development.

A large part of my experience was with MYDO, a voluntary organization focused on helping youth to develop their soft and hard skills so that they can become leaders across economic, social and political spheres. One of my key tasks was to create a 5-year strategic plan. I conducted needs assessments on the team and youth, as well as on youth-focused development actors working with and apart from HerStart. The goal of creating this plan was to help guide the team in delivering diverse programs and resources for youth in a way that better aligns with their mission.

With this feedback, I was also able to complete the strategic plan in a way that was informed by multiple sets of voices which enabled a more aware and inclusive platform. Evaluating the responses of all partners involved with MYDO taught me how to frame the plan in a way that resonates with diverse youth but can still enjoy the benefits from collaborating through partnerships. My theoretical understanding of international development, particularly in reference to Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, turned into a more practical one that I have carried into the present.

Towards the end of my placement, I then had the chance to apply this learning by co-developing a workshop on building women’s confidence in the workplace which was an issue raised by the Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool for MoY. By building on the feedback and support from HerStart’s various partners, we created a space that prioritized women’s voices and promoted the exchange of ideas and advice. This workshop was perhaps the most enriching experience for me because it is a culmination of professional relationships and development I fostered over the course of my placement.

I have deep gratitude for the team at Youth Challenge International and the connections I made at MYDO and MoY for guiding me in my professional development. I learned about the critical role that partnerships have in international development, and how their synergies can be harnessed to produce impactful change. I continue to be inspired by the stories coming out of HerStart, and look forward to continuing my journey in ways that embrace values of equality and inclusivity.

Interested in volunteering internationally? Learn about YCI’s HerStart Fellowships for Canadians to contribute their skills and gain experience while collaborating with women and global partners to advance social entrepreneurship and gender equality.