My name is Daniel Bakti Sianturi. I am a Sociology student at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Atma Jaya University Yogyakarta. I am currently in my seventh semester and completing an internship as part of my academic requirement.

I chose Sociology because of my interest in social issues that intersect with everyday community life. During my studies, I learned about social, political, cultural, economic, tourism, environmental, and media issues. Sociology shaped my perspective in understanding relationships between social aspects and the dynamics within society.

This academic background led me to choose an NGO as my internship placement. My interest in the NGO sector grew as I learned about the role of civil society organizations in responding to social issues. I looked for an internship that aligned with my academic learning and focused on environmental issues. Based on these considerations, I chose Yayasan SHEEP Indonesia as my internship institution.

I completed my internship at Yayasan SHEEP Indonesia for a little over two months, from October 1 to December 4. I was assigned to the KIPHA project team under direct supervision from Mas Nathan. During the internship, I received guidance and supervision that supported my learning process and work adaptation.

During the internship, I was involved in the KIPHA project, Climate Justice for the Fulfillment of Children’s Rights. My roles included participating in workshops on climate justice and climate change, school expeditions, KIPHA literacy classes, and journalism classes. These activities gave me direct insight into NGO work focused on climate issues and children’s rights.

My contributions included assisting with workshop implementation, producing written content, supporting literacy classes, and delivering materials in journalism classes. I worked with students from elementary, junior high, and senior high school levels. These contributions became part of my learning process and support for the project team.

The most meaningful experience was sharing my knowledge with students in the journalism class. In this activity, I acted as a presenter with support from the KIPHA project team. I learned how to apply the right approach so participants could understand the material well within fieldwork settings and team dynamics.

Through the KIPHA project, I gained a new understanding of climate justice and its impact on children’s rights. I saw how climate issues directly affect community life at a broader level. This includes climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. This experience strengthened my view on the importance of community based approaches.

During the internship, I also faced challenges related to fear of trying new things. This fear appeared at times. I responded by staying eager to learn. I realized that fear often exists only in our minds. From this, I learned not to hesitate in trying new things. Fear only slows our personal growth process.

My internship at YSI changed the way I think and act. I learned about work values within the organization and within projects, the concept of KIPHA, project implementation, and approaches used in community development and community organization. This experience became an important reflection for my future personal development.

After the internship, I am interested in continuing to explore the environmental field because of its relevance to current challenges. I also want to further develop my skills in writing, public speaking, teamwork, and problem solving.

I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor and the entire YSI family for providing this opportunity and learning space. I hope YSI continues to grow and create positive impact for communities. For me personally, this experience is an important foundation for my future academic and professional journey.