Arta Kurti interned with Happy Shelter and built experience in nonprofit operations, volunteer coordination, adoption support, and strategic decision-making for an international animal rescue organization.
How did you get your internship?
The reason why I secured this internship is that I have been actively cooperating with Happy Shelter, which is a non-profit organization based in Skopje, North Macedonia. This organization is an animal rescue and rehabilitation nonprofit organization. As I have been volunteering with this charity for many years, taking this internship seemed quite obvious and natural for me since I was eager to continue working with them. Since I was familiar with the goals of the shelter, its philosophy, and common problems it faces, my responsibilities were not confined to mere volunteerism.
Why did you choose this internship?
This internship appealed to me because I was seeking an experience that would be valuable and relevant on a practical level. The tasks performed at Happy Shelter are emotionally draining, but I was eager to learn about the management side of charity rescues. I was interested in finding out how communication, leadership, and good decision-making can make or break a nonprofit organization. In addition, this internship enabled me to bring my academic experience to a meaningful professional activity.
What kind of work did you do throughout your internship experience?
During my internship at Happy Shelter, I was involved in handling internal affairs, coordinating volunteers, communicating about adoptions, and developing plans for the organization. I did an analysis of adoption applications, facilitated follow-up conversations, and communicated with potential adopters and volunteers. Additionally, I learned that organizations have to prioritize urgent rescue cases while operating under limited resources. Though much of my work involved communicating, the internship was more about leadership and management.
What skills did you develop in this internship?
The internship helped me develop my skills in communication, leadership, organization, and problem-solving. I realized the importance of remaining professional and keeping one’s cool in situations that involve high emotional states, especially those involving rescue operations and complications with adoptions. My skills in time management and decision making were honed through this experience, as these require both compassion and a realistic consideration of resources. These skills will help me in various fields in the future, especially marketing and public relations.
What was your favorite or most satisfying part of your internship?
The most satisfying aspect of my internship experience was the realization that the contribution I made to the work being done would make a difference to the animals and their adopters. Tasks, regardless of how small they may be, have the potential to bring about improvements in the process of adoption or even within the larger operations of the organization. The level of trust and cooperation present in charitable rescue organizations was very interesting, as it emphasized that the effort put forth by an organization is just as important as its public image.
What did you find challenging about your internship?
The hardest part of my internship experience was dealing with emotionally intense situations and staying organized and professional at the same time. The process of animal rescue could be quite unpredictable, and sometimes you have to make hard decisions. I learned about the importance of adaptation and resilience in leadership positions. This experience helped me understand that professionalism was not only about knowledge and abilities but also about attitude.
How has your internship experience influenced your plans for your future?
The internship ignited my interest in utilizing my leadership and communication to do mission- driven work. This is because it was apparent that good communication skills were important in non-profit organizations, and that strong leadership could make a lot of difference within the team. The internship helped me realize that I would want to be part of marketing, public relations, and organization planning professions in the future.