MY INTERNSHIP
MERCY RELIEF
What is Mercy Relief?
Headquartered in Singapore, Mercy Relief was established in 2003 to respond to human tragedies and disasters in the Asia Pacific region.
Today, it is Singapore’s leading independent disaster relief agency with dedicated leadership, capacity building expertise and an affiliate network operating across the entire disaster management cycle.
Mercy Relief provides emergency aid within 72 hours of an appeal in the aftermath of a disaster. MR's longer-term sustainable development programs aim to uplift and empower communities in five key areas: water and sanitation, shelter, sustainable livelihoods, healthcare and education.
My Role at Mercy Relief
I spent my time working in two different departments at MR: International Programs and Corporate & Finance.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
In this position, I managed long-term development projects, ensuring their successful execution and sustainability. I produced detailed situation reports for various disasters, providing crucial insights and data to inform decision-making processes. Additionally, I developed proposals for collaborative initiatives, fostering partnerships and aligning objectives with stakeholders. My role also involved conducting comprehensive needs assessments for local communities, identifying critical areas of support and designing targeted interventions to address them effectively.
CORPORATE & FINANCE
In this position, I managed finances using Excel, ensuring accurate and efficient tracking of financial data. I conducted comprehensive market research, analyzing trends and data to provide insightful presentations that informed strategic decisions on fundraising activities. Additionally, I organized various activities aimed at fostering office bonding, enhancing team cohesion and morale. My role demanded a balance of analytical skills and interpersonal abilities, contributing to both the operational efficiency and the positive work environment within the organization.
Goals Met
Complete Project
The goal I had set for myself was to successfully manage the project to provide aid to children in Banten, Indonesia and coordinate with the ground partner to provide an appropriate itinerary for the trip. I set this goal with the idea in mind that I would have the full two months to complete it. However, I was switched to a different department halfway through my internship and had to hand off my unfinished work to the next intern. I regularly checked in with the new IP intern on the progress of this project, and thankfully she was able to finalize the project details. Although I had been unable to complete it myself, my contributions to the project surely sped up the process to finalize the project.
Make the Most of My Time in Singapore Given a Busy Schedule
With working hours of 9am-6pm, I was worried that I would not have enough time to experience as much of Singapore as I wished to. Therefore, I set a goal to explore as much of this area as I possibly could. Every day after work, I would visit a new area of Singapore with friends. By doing this every day, I can say I saw as much of Singapore as I possibly could have in my two months of living there. I had to sacrifice downtime, but it was a sacrifice much worth it. In addition to Singapore, I had also stated that I wanted to visit nearby countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Through many hours of planning and coordination, my friends and I were able to plan a weekend trip to Malaysia.
Contribute Meaningfully to Humanitarian Efforts
This is a long-term goal I had set for myself; however, I feel that I have already made a meaningful contribution to global humanitarian efforts in my two short months at Mercy Relief. I have helped develop a project to rebuild a community suffering from a disaster that struck back in 2018. The project will provide education and a clean water system to a community who has been without drinkable water for six years. Although this is just one community out of millions of others suffering on this planet, this project served as a step in the right direction for me as a humanitarian, and I hope to use the skills and lessons I've gained from this project to help other communities in need around the world.