Me, Emily, and Gillian at the Freeplay Foundation Office with Lifeline Radios
It’s a surreal feeling sitting in London fighting the monotony of reading project proposals and budgets, while knowing that it will ultimately be helping adolescent girls in Burundi. Until recently I didn’t know much about Burundi other than as the country on the map of East Africa. But since working at the Freeplay Foundation I have learned quite a bit about Burundi—it’s political history, cultural practices, and systemic problems.
Freeplay Foundation's Solar-Powered and Wind-Up "Lifeline Radio"--the first radio ever created for humanitarian use.
The Freeplay Foundation is an international NGO which works to alleviate "enegy-poverty" through the distribution of clean energy technologies, such as wind-up and solar powered flashlights and radios. During my internship in London, with Gillian and Emily, I have worked closely with the Freeplay Foundation’s Project Manager. It has been a whirlwind experience, from reporting directly to the Foundation’s CEO to brainstorming potential project ideas to adjusting to the surprisingly numerous cultural differences (who knew a dish called “Bangers and Mash” could be so delicious?).
A picture from a Burundian Village Savings and Loan Group Meeting in Gitega.
One of my favorite projects so far has been the Burundi project, where the Freeplay Foundation is working with other international and local Burundian NGOs to help adolescent girls create savings and loans groups and learn microfinance skills. My favorite part of the project is watching it evolve through various stages from an initial proposal, to a discussion at a partner meeting, and ultimately an implemented project which will help the lives of 20,000 girls. I look forward to watching it develop and how the Freeplay Foundation’s contribution will impact the lives of the girls.
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