Working with Helvetas in Tanzania: Samira Cabdulle shares her experience as an intern

I did my bachelors and master’s in environmental engineering at ETH Zurich.

What is the goal of the research project that you are working on with Helvetas Tanzania?

I did an internship with Helvetas Tanzania sponsored by ETH4D and SEMP. During the internship, I was working within the project external page Helvetas Climate Smart Organic Cotton. The project aims to improve livelihoods of farmers through sustainable agriculture practices and fair-trade market linkages.

What does your usual working day during your internship look like?

My working days varied a lot. I collected data, cleaned it, structured it, processed it and created reports and dashboards, which were meant to display progress of the project activities. Further, I learnt how to use tools to measure and project the economic performance and the potential sequestration of carbon of rotation-based farming. I also got to visit various project sites, such as villages, schools, tree nurseries and farms to solve issues. For example, one of the farmers had issues related to irrigation, so we proposed a drip irrigation-system using a hollow pumpkin filled with water and attached a piece of cloth at the end to irrigate the plants.

Additionally, we would also facilitate environmental protection plans with village environmental committees. This would include mapping the villages and the areas where interventions are planned and finally presenting the plans to the whole village by calling for village meetings, which often were conducted in an open space beneath a huge tree. Those would sometimes get a bit heated, especially if the plans included changes in livestock management practices. Lastly, we planned and conducted an audio-sensing campaign to monitor environmental health through bird populations, as they are easier to identify and monitor than insects.

In what way does this internship shape your future research or employment interests?

The internship has sparked my interest in data analysis and project management. It has also given me the opportunity to dive into a new culture, learn a new language, broaden my skill sets and develop a deeper understanding about some of the challenges and solutions in climate-smart farming. This internship was a valuable opportunity that has shaped my future career goals and I will always look back on it with fond memories.

Do you have the opportunity to discover more about life in Tanzania?

I have had the opportunity to travel within Tanzania. The country is beautiful with its great diversity in landscapes that vary greatly from one region to another. One highlight as an environmental engineer was seeing the huge Mtera dam, with its thousands of dead trees and the birds of all colours that flocked to the area.

During the winter break, I was also fortunate to explore more of Tanzania with some friends. We travelled to Arusha, to the north of the country. We went to different national parks and saw large herds of zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, and groups of elephants and giraffes all feeding on the short grasses while lions and hyenas were always close-by. It was a unique experience, waking up in a camp amid a grass plain to the sounds of birds and the sight of zebras and giraffes.

What has so far been the most memorable during your internship?

I was moved by the hospitality I received from the farmers and their communities. Listening to their success stories since partnering with Helvetas was incredibly motivating.