At the project Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia (CASE), we believe in empowering the next generation of leaders in sustainable energy. Our internship program offers a unique blend of hands-on experience, mentorship, and exposure to regional energy initiatives. In this Q&A, we spotlight the journey of Supissara Pannokkhieo (Ja) a recent intern who, despite having limited prior knowledge in the field, found her experience with CASE to be both enjoyable and rewarding.
What were your main responsibilities during your internship with CASE?
During my internship at GIZ, I have supported and coordinated the CASE Regional project. My primary responsibility is to assist and support my advisors in managing regional communication and project management activities for CASE. This includes maintaining and updating the Southeast Asia Information Platform for the Energy Transition (SIPET) website and preparing for an upcoming workshop on electricity market design in Southeast Asia.
In addition to these tasks, I am involved in developing communication materials such as project planning, translating, and participating in online meetings to review and coordinate various aspects of the project, or even attend some of the hosted event by GIZ team.
How would you describe the work culture and team dynamics at our organization?
During my time at GIZ, I had the chance of meeting many wonderful people within the team. The organization fosters a collaborative and supportive environment for interns. The team dynamics, especially given the regional CASE project, involves frequent online meetings with partner organizations. This aspect has significantly broadened my skills in comprehending multilateral project implementation. Additionally, given that the GIZ CASE team in Bangkok is small, people tend to foster close connections both inside and outside of work. After-work activities, where interns are welcome to hang out with the whole team activities are organized and encourage to join these social gatherings as one of the colleges. Whenever I faced challenges or encountered difficulties with a task, my colleagues were always willing to offer assistance and support without hesitation. This supportive environment has greatly enriched my internship experience and professional growth.
How has this experience shaped your understanding of clean and sustainable energy in Southeast Asia?
This internship has significantly broadened my knowledge on clean and sustainable energy. As an International Relations and Global Affairs major, who have almost zero knowledge of sustainable energy my internship here has provided valuable insights into the energy demands of Southeast Asian countries, specifically Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. The participation in various calls with the regional team has deepened my understanding of energy technologies and the policy support that CASE is promoting to drive communication around a new energy vision. Additionally, a side project broadened my knowledge in the field of human rights within the context of energy democracy. This project encouraged me to think beyond the traditional scope of human rights issues and consider their implications in the field of energy. Which really gives me a new perspective of the ongoing issue around the world.
What advice would you give to future interns joining our project?
To future interns, I highly recommend considering this organization as your intern place, even if your field of study does not directly focus on sustainability or climate change. GIZ offers a unique opportunity to gain international experience, working with multiple countries globally. If you are interested in working with a multicultural organization, this would be the gain and the learning experience on how projects are coordinated across different nations and understand the tangible benefits they bring to each country. I think this internship allows you to broaden your perspective and gain valuable insights, making it one of the worthwhile internship experiences for me.
In one sentence, how would you sum up your internship experience with us?
All great things have small beginnings.