Wilma Isaboke

I am a human rights advocate from Kenya with a passion of defending and promoting human rights values and the desire to constantly expand my knowledge and practical skills. Thus, the reasons for my resolve to undertake an internship at Mental Disability Advocacy Center, in order to comprehend better the rights of people with disabilities. Additionally, having the knowledge of the challenges facing people with intellectual disabilities and people with psycho-social disabilities in my country and other countries in Africa including the rest of the world, there was no any other place than MDAC to conduct this internship given their renowned reputation in defending and upholding the rights of persons with disabilities especially mental disability.

There is an adage from my people that states “fuata nyuki ule asali” (follow the bees to eat honey) which literally means that one can benefit from something only after undertaking appropriate measures. In my case I followed MDAC and I got the experience that I thought I would and much more. It is quiet easy to descriptively outline my responsibilities at MDAC during my three months internship period which basically involved assisting the Africa programme, through undertaking research on disability rights in relevant African countries and can truthfully state how warm, kind, dedicated, patient and educating the people and the place was. However it is challenging on the other hand to impart the personal gratification, immense experience and knowledge acquired from this internship.

In the event I am asked the resulting questions, the responses given will be as such:

(a) Was it worth undertaking the internship? Absolutely.

(b) Was it elevating and perceptive? Unquestionably.

(c) Would I want to pursue a career in this field? Definitely.

(d) Do I support and would I continue to support MDAC's work? Certainly.

(e) Is it paramount to support MDAC’s work? Yes.

As stated earlier one can follow the bee through internship to make a better world in their subsequent career paths or contribute in whatever way they deem fit to MDACs work because it was worth it and it shall always be.