I am Arianna Zecchillo, student of the Master’s degree in Hospitality and Management of Tourism at IULM University. I am writing this article while I’m in Dakar, and I’m willing to share my incredible experience in Senegal while I am still living it.
I have always looked for experiences that would have taken me outside of the box, where adaptability and adventure would be the main characteristics. I can confirm that, if you are looking for a unique experience or you just want to challenge yourselves, this is your cup of tea!
Everything started when, by chance, I ran into an open position as Local Project Implementation Intern at E4Impact on the AlmaLaurea platform. In that very moment I realized that I found the right thing for me, but getting it was not easy at all. Since the beginning, it was challenging, given the fact that I had to postpone my departure for Senegal by a month due to civil protests in Dakar that put safety at risk. At the Milan headquarter, E4Impact offered me many alternatives to solve the problem, but I did not give up: something made me believe that the situation was going to get better soon and that I would have been able to live what had become my dream. Luckily, in about a month the situation got better and, one week later I was on a flight from Milan to Dakar.
Senegal is the country of “Teranga”, which means hospitality, and I felt it from the first day here. The kindness and attentiveness of the local people lead them to go out of their way to offer help to others. Senegalese are also very cheerful and curious: walking on the street, everyone greets you and kids often say “toubab toubab” – “foreigner” in wolof – to catch the attention and entertain small talk with foreigners. Moreover, once I arrived here, I never would have thought I’d witness such a variety of events, to the point that I had multiple options to choose from each day. Dakar is a dynamic and vibrant capital, embracing progress while maintaining deep-rooted connections to ancient African culture, ethnicities, tribal heritage, and the Muslim faith.
To be honest, at first, I was wary of people’s kindness; I found it hard to trust them and felt intimidated by their way of interacting, due to prejudices that later proved unfounded. That said, I’m not suggesting one shouldn’t be cautious, especially at night, but I feel that without understanding the true context of this place, it’s easy to be overly cautious.
Regarding my work experience, I discovered the world of cooperation, which I hope to embrace in my future professional journey. Learning from the E4Impact team, I realized the importance of public relations in economic development projects. I observed how a project is built from scratch, exploring collaboration opportunities with other NGOs and potential investors. Moreover, I witnessed two entrepreneurial trainings operated by E4Impact for actors of the fish value-chain in the area of Yoff (Dakar), under the FISH project.
This experiences were made possible thanks to Mousse FAYE, E4Impact Country Manager in Senegal and Erica Negro, E4Impact Impact Measurement Manager, who supported me directly from Italy. What I appreciated most about my internship was that I was always given the opportunity to share my ideas on the topics discussed, and my input was considered when decisions were made. Additionally, I was able to manage my tasks at my own pace, allowing me to fully immerse myself in my time in Dakar.
My internship was an enriching and well-rounded experience, both professionally and personally, and I realize that not everyone has the chance to experience something like this. I truly hope that, by reading this article, I can inspire someone curious and adventurous to take a leap, just as I did, whether for an internship or even a thesis project!
Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to E4Impact, my parents, and all the incredible people I met along the way for making these three months unforgettable!
Arianna Zecchillo