How My LIS Internship Helped Me Find My Passion for Social Change

Let me take you back a few months. I was approaching the culmination of my first year of study at The London Interdisciplinary School, a brand new University in which students study global problems instead of traditional subjects, and I received an email from the amazing careers team there, offering me the opportunity to take my learnings and abilities into an internship that they would personally match me to.

I, like much of the diverse cohort at LIS, have a unique mix of interests, experiences and skills. Before finding this innovative interdisciplinary programme, I was looking at routes into politics, journalism, the charity sector, film and just about anything else you could think of. So, how could they possibly match all of my interests simultaneously to one organisation, and one role?

That was my fear as weeks, and months followed, and I remained without an internship. As many of my friends got offers, and began working, across a range of sectors; some in marketing at Fidelity International, some in data analysis at The East London NHS Foundation Trust, and some in value creation at KP Snacks; I began to feel left out - but perhaps, even more worryingly, I noticed how unenthusiastic I would have been about all of those roles.

And then, as I was sitting in the airport with my dad, ready to jet off for my summer travels, I receive a Microsoft Teams message, from our amazing Head of Futures at LIS, Anna Matei, who had informed me that the lead on Business Development at Think Equal, Vikram wanted to speak to me regarding a possible internship opportunity. I immediately said yes, chomping at the bit that she appeared to have found a good fit for me, and I immediately got researching.

So there I was, hunched on my suitcase waiting for my flight, desperately searching the web for information about Think Equal, and what I found was extraordinary. I discovered the innovation, knowledge and drive behind a program of fundamental change for our next generation. I discovered the rapid expansion of the organisation, the success stories as governments were mandating it into their national curriculum only years after its creation. However, most of all I discovered that it was something I could wholeheartedly, and enthusiastically get behind.

A few days later, I spoke to Vikram, as he excitedly informed me about the organisation, his passion oozing through the screen, despite the distance between us. He told me about the opportunity he had for me, the range of responsibilities he could offer me, and the independence he would give me to pursue them. It was then that I knew this was what I was waiting for, and this was the opportunity for me. We immediately arranged a start date, and then got to work!

And work, I did! This was not your traditional internship - there were no coffee runs (though that was helped by Think Equal’s team consisting of global talent, working from around the world, remotely towards this shared mission), no ‘babysitting’, and no ‘dillydallying’ - I had genuine responsibility, and importance to the organisation from day one.

So what did I actually do? Well, I lived and breathed the Think Equal way. I experienced the intensity of working for a start-up, helping the team  to pull together a grant application in anticipation of the deadline less than 24 hours away , crafting the perfect proposal as we took an innovative idea from ideation to application within a short timeframe (which I hope you will all hear more about soon!).

I researched and found new funding opportunities, and potential partners for the organisation, deepening my understanding and knowledge of the NGO sector, as a never ending list of potential funders and partners were provided to me. Each one, I researched in detail, providing my knowledge and opinion back to the team - and it was truly amazing to see how valued and seriously my thoughts were taken - and even better to see how they were acted on!

I also helped provide detail on the planning of  the organisation's global pipeline, and exciting future growth- delving deep into the environments of different countries and regions, researching their school systems, their governments and their level of connectivity, , creating an accurate picture of these places, the level of viability of pursuing them and a foundation of knowledge to be built upon as Think Equal looks to expand into more territories in the near future.

Most exciting of all, I had the honour and privilege of working closely with Founder and CEO Leslee Udwin. Her excitement, determination and drive has changed my way of working forever, and inspired me every time I had the pleasure of working with her. She gave me unprecedented access to the organisation's inner workings, as I got the pleasure of helping her put together contracts, new materials and form new relations with a range of exciting partners and people- and that is just a brief overview!

So, as I write this, in anticipation of my internship coming to a close tomorrow - what have I learnt?

• I have learnt that the need for Think Equal is bigger than ever. In the wake of an ever more divided world, it is clear that only through changing the mindset of our youngest generation, at the age of maximum impact, we will be able to create a more peaceful future.
• I have learnt of the transformative impact Think Equal has already had (even on my backdoor - with Think Equal being implemented into every school in Greater Manchester!), creating a generation of higher-performing, more respectful young children due to an innovative programme of Social and Emotional learning.
• And I learnt about myself, and the desire within me to spark change. Across the world, there are so many good causes not getting the support they need, so many vulnerable people not getting the support they need and so many determined changemakers, like the amazing people at Think Equal not getting the support they need- and I am determined to be at the forefront of offering it in my future career.

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Now, I return back to LIS - changed, excited and optimistic about the future, knowing that organisations like Think Equal will continue to grow and prosper, impacting more children than ever before. I know that the problem solving skills being taught to me by the amazing team and innovative curriculum at LIS, will position me to have a similarly consequential impact on the world in the future.