Open to a new opportunity

“It would flourish my international development experience if I can work with Austrian organisations”. I planed to gain my experience in development work before I arrived in Melbourne. I would like to have a practical experience while I am taking my master program. From my original understanding, researching a familiar topic will strengthening my specialise as a development practitioner. Although my primary plan was to intern with a locally-based organisation in Australia, I wonder what would I gain if I have a placement with the locally-based organisation. What would be an opportunity for me if I can extend my network oversea. Likewise, I wonder what would be a rich experience in working in disability-inclusive development when many organisation have included people with disabilities in their development programs. Thus, I decided to expand my comfort zone to explore disability-inclusive development which has never been in my intension.

From the beginning, I was not sure if it would be a great idea to take in this research because I do not have much experience in disability inclusion area. Also, Tearfund is my former’s funder which I am afraid that my experience and knowledge will limit with only Tearfund and World Renew’s (my former organisation) working approach.

While I am working on my project, I have realised that working with Tearfund is a massive opportunity for my learning journey as a development practitioner because I will collaborate with eight organisations in Asia and Africa. This learning opportunity will support me as a development practitioner to gain my knowledge in observing what mindset does Tearfund have? and what approach do they use for collaborating with diverse context. I am indeed aware that this opportunity may have some challenges, but it would be a massive learning journey for me as well. Therefore, I have learned to connect my practical experience during my internship with theories I find from the university. The views of development which refer to whose framework and whose theories? A common question in participatory learning is whose reality counts? And what lens will I use when I work in this research project.