My essential question is, how does a non-profit organization develop and implement a sustainable solution to global hunger and poverty? One significant learning experience during my internship last week was when I attempted to lead a meeting with my internship supervisors, Ashley and Liz. Coming into this meeting, I felt totally prepared to talk about my weekly progress. Shortly after the meeting began, I launched straight into providing a thorough update on the various things that I had been working on over the course of the week. A couple of minutes into my update, however, Ashley congratulated me on my progress but told me that rather than discussing my project, she wanted to discuss my weekly development and to talk about some of the areas I want to improve during my internship. She explained how setting clear personal and professional goals was something that The Hunger Project strongly emphasizes as an organization, especially within the THP internship program. When she told me this, I immediately froze, for I suddenly felt unprepared. I felt my face heat up and my words became hesitant and shaky. In response, my supervisors were supportive and they understood my nervousness. During the rest of the meeting, we began discussing and clarifying my goals as well as ways to remain fulfilled and engaged during such strange and uncertain times. My two main goals for my internship consisted of gaining a deeper understanding of The Hunger Project as an organization and to increase my confidence in my abilities to communicate effectively. In addition to identifying my goals and brainstorming “action steps” to achieve these goals, we reviewed my “Annual Focus List,” which is essentially a list of annual self-improvement goals and fun activities that every intern at THP creates. Setting these goals really improved my self-confidence and allowed me to adopt an optimistic mindset. 

Although my experience discussing my goals with my supervisors doesn’t directly relate to my essential question, it revealed a lot about how The Hunger Project constantly engages and empowers its own employees. Everyone who I have talked to at THP has shared an unyielding commitment to ending global hunger and poverty sustainably. At every meeting that I have observed, the staff members are incredibly enthusiastic, supportive and passionate about their role in the movement to empower rural communities across the globe to end their own hunger and poverty once and for all. My weekly development meeting taught me how deeply The Hunger Project cares and supports all of its leaders, staff members, and even interns. I have realized that this care inspires creativity, innovation and empowers THP employees to come up with new and engaging ideas. My meeting taught me that in order to successfully develop and implement a sustainable solution to global hunger and poverty, a non-profit organization must first empower, encourage and inspire growth among its employees.