Meet the Interns - Part III
Camille Narayan: Wants to make India her home The 23-year-old from Vancouver moved to the University of Warwick in UK to study Globalisation and Development in Politics. Having applied for the internship a bit late, Camille was not even sure she would make it here in time. “I am not exaggerating, but it is an incredible feeling to be part of this programme,” says Camille, whose ancestors moved to Canada from Fiji five decades ago. As one who likes the classroom environment, the four-day orientation programme in Manesar saw Camille listen with an attentive ear to all the lectures “It was more exciting than the classrooms - not one dull moment,” she says. The topic for her field work in Anand and Valsad relates to sanitation in dairy farming in milk cooperatives. “It’s going to be a very new experience for me, though I have heard dairy farming has been a huge success in these areas,” said Camille. Camille sees India as a country composed of several countries. “Everyone has preconceived notions about India, but I am not one of them. I have been wanting to come here and do research work for my academics, and this was just the chance I was waiting for,” she said. “Who knows, one day employment may get me to India. That would be a dream come true,” says Camille.
Melike Egilmezler: Job can wait at the World Bank
Frankly speaking, Melike was surprised to be nominated for this internship as she is already working with the World Bank in Washington DC. “To be in an office environment is very different than coming to India and be involved in work like this,” says Melike. For one already familiar with models used in studying case studies in the World Bank, the trip to India has been good. ‘The orientation programme was very broad in the beginning but got very comprehensive. When I go to the field in Bhubaneshwar, I know what is expected of me,” she says. Her field study will be on decentralization, and she will be working with the Institute of Social Sciences. “I have a broad picture of how we will be collecting data which will relate to alleviation of poverty and how decentralization helps in it,” she says. Melike thinks she has an advantage over some of the other interns to a small extent as she has worked with the World Bank. “My job experience has made me understand a lot on the development agenda. But yes, I lacked regional experience and that is what I am looking forward to,” adds Melike. “My stint as a UNICEF intern is going to complement my job,” she added.
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