Learning by doing
Farid, 20, who attained his Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) professional certification under our E3 programme is the newest intern to join our JRS team. He shares more about himself and his experience double hatting as a student and an assistant for our latest Web Development course…
I am Farid, a refugee who has been living in Indonesia for over 8 years. When I first arrived in Indonesia at the age of 12, I struggled with basic English and had no computer skills. But for the first time in many years, I felt peace and safety. This sense of security motivated me to learn using whatever resources I could access. As a refugee in Indonesia, I could not attend school, but I did not want to miss any opportunity for learning. I embraced online education, using every resource I could find, and I am incredibly grateful to those who supported and motivated me along the way. Today, I am proud to say that I am CCNA certified, and have web development and graphic design skills, thanks to the JRS E3 programme.
Being engaged by JRS Singapore as an intern for the Web Development Course in May and June was my first foray into the professional world. I was really excited at the opportunity although I was also a little concerned about managing my responsibilities as both an intern as well as a student of the course.
The 3-week course provided a comprehensive overview of web development essentials, equipping students with the skills needed to build, host, and maintain websites. The hands-on experience with coding, domain management, and popular website builders like WordPress and Wix prepared participants, like myself, to create functional and engaging web pages.
A Snapshot
Topics covered in the MTC 3 Web Development Course
- Functions of Web Design and Elements
- Process of Web Hosting
- HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) for structuring web pages and creating efficient, user-friendly websites.
- Website Domain, Hosting, and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) for maintaining and updating websites.
- Introduction to WordPress and Wix
The course was fairly intensive, with 3-hour lessons five times a week. On top of that, I spent about 2-3 hours a few times a week, working to complete the individual assignment of building an actual website. While I had some background in WordPress, learning to build websites with Wix was entirely new to me. However, under the trainer John’s guidance, I became familiar with the platform. Watching the trainer apply his skills to build websites was inspiring. His encouragement and practical feedback also provided me with many good ideas to develop my own website.
Balancing the dual role of being a student and an assistant was not all smooth sailing and I faced a few challenges in the beginning. Being my first internship, I found myself feeling lost sometimes. Thankfully, I was surrounded by an incredibly supportive team and a more senior intern was always there to guide me through the initial hurdles. In the process, I have developed better time management skills and learnt to stay adaptable.
More recently in July, I also provided logistical support for the Digital Skills for Design course under E3. This new role brought me into contact with a different training team and new students. Even though I wasn’t officially enrolled in the Digital Skills for Design course, I took every opportunity to listen to the trainer’s insights, particularly the tips on building a strong portfolio. This exposure provided me with valuable design principles and techniques. Having gained experience from my previous role, I felt better equipped to provide support and collaborate effectively with my new team.
Reflecting on my time at JRS, I’m grateful for the experiences and the connections I made. Since I started my internship role, I have learnt many new skills that are important for my professional development. The internship not only helped me hone my technical skills but also taught me the value of teamwork, communication, and continuous learning.
The cornerstone of the LEAP@JRS development initiative, the E3 programme seeks to equip asylum seekers and refugees with certified IT skills.