Welcoming a team player
“We’re honoured and grateful for this opportunity, to partner with JRS, in hosting Abdul* as part of the Earth Company family!” This enthusiastic response from De Andre, Manager from Earth Company was encouraging. He shares his company’s experience mentoring an E3 graduate as part of the JRS internship programme.
All organizations have a myriad of ways to make tangible positive impact. One way, of course, is to ensure an organization’s core business is purpose oriented. Earth Company is an impact-driven social enterprise that offers transformational support to changemakers and delivers inspiring sustainability education programmes. We also manage an eco-villa in Ubud, which became the first B Corp™ certified* hotel in Southeast Asia. For Earth Company, creating employment opportunities for vulnerable communities is a way to make a positive social impact. This is why it was a ‘no-brainer’ to partner JRS in the internship programme.
After viewing his CV and a round of interview, Abdul joined Earth Company’s Global Communications team as an intern — with the task of producing content. He is mainly assigned to produce content (both video and graphic design) for Earth Company’s social media with the aim of increasing the organization’s brand awareness amongst our global audience.
As he is the first refugee intern we are mentoring, there were of course teething problems. One of the challenges of a virtual internship is maintaining smooth communications. It’s not as easy to exchange ideas and communicate tasks when working virtually. Moreover, Abdul has other commitments to fulfil as a volunteer in his refugee community and so was engaged by Earth Company on a part time basis. We respect his decision to volunteer as this is incredibly important for the community; but it does limit our opportunities for communication.
Samples from Abdul’s portfolio
Overall, the positives of having our intern outweigh the challenges and adjustments which our team has to make. Abdul has been wonderful throughout his time with us. He’s very reliable, quick to understand instructions and has adjusted well to our fast-paced work environment. He works very closely with our Multimedia & Content Officer, mainly responsible for producing our social media content through graphic design and video editing.
Beyond just fulfilling the tasks he has been assigned, Abdul has given us a different perspective. His life-story, the obstacles he has faced, and the resilience he has shown is truly an inspiration for all of our team members. He has been a steady presence in our team, and a visible reminder that more can still be done to bring positive impact to vulnerable communities in our midst.
Abdul who is currently living in Indonesia finds it meaningful and enriching to be engaged on Earth Company’s impactful projects. This is what Abdul himself has to say:
“Through this internship, I’ve developed new skills in multimedia content creation and storytelling, as well as time management and collaboration. While juggling multiple deadlines was a challenge, it pushed me to grow both professionally and personally. The support from my mentors and colleagues has been fantastic, and I’ve gained a lot from this experience. I look forward to continuing to contribute to the team”.
*Names have been changed for privacy purposes.
*B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.