Hello, I’m Srushti Pawar, a second-year student at Shri Ram College of Commerce. I recently completed a 1.5-month summer internship at Glific. This was my first internship and it honestly set the bar too high.
I’ve always been passionate about the social sector, whether through volunteering with various organizations or participating in different clubs. My desire to create social impact and make a difference in people’s lives led me to Glific.
At first, I was unsure how technology could be used to drive social change. However, as I delved into Glific’s work, I quickly realized the crucial role technology plays in creating widespread impact and empowering communities. Despite my initial apprehension, given my lack of a tech background, I soon found myself navigating the tech landscape with growing confidence.
When I first started creating chat flows, I made numerous mistakes and often felt lost. However, the Glific team was incredibly supportive, guiding me through review calls and offering assistance whenever I felt stuck. The thorough documentation provided was also invaluable in helping me understand the process.
During my first week, I realized that beyond the work and experience, it’s the people at Glific that make it such a great organization. The team was always there to help, guide, and support me, creating an environment where I felt safe to make mistakes and learn. This supportive atmosphere, along with the encouragement from Krishna and Sangeeta, transformed me from someone unfamiliar with technology to someone confident in handling technical tasks.
Once I mastered my chat flows, I moved on to attending support calls. Initially, I shadowed Sangeeta to learn the Facebook verification process. She encouraged me to lead some of the calls, always offering help when needed. This hands-on learning made me more confident in the verification process, and eventually, I was able to handle the calls independently. Interacting with NGOs taught me that beyond technical knowledge, patience and compassion are essential in this work. NGOs come with varying levels of tech expertise, and it’s our job to support them through the process. Sangeeta’s patience in the initial calls taught me to remain calm and address every query thoughtfully.
The verification process involved understanding each NGO’s needs, goals, and challenges. With the support of the team and through multiple conversations with different NGOs, I recognized the critical need for technical solutions, especially for those working at scale in data collection, content distribution, and feedback gathering. It was truly inspiring to see the diverse issues these NGOs were tackling and the innovative strategies they were employing to create impact.
I was also tasked with planning the Delhi Sprint. Having lived in Delhi for a year, I was able to efficiently organize logistics and plan various activities, including heritage walks, painting sessions, and cycling tours. This involved reaching a consensus with the group and ensuring everyone was on board. We organized walks to heritage sites like Sunder Nursery and Qutub Minar. For indoor activities, Akansha, Aishwarya, and Sangeeta were instrumental in brainstorming and executing fun activities for the team. I also assisted Krishna in formatting different presentations for the accelerator and curated various playlists to match the different moods of the event.
Additionally, I learned a new skill—creating the Google Cloud Storage console. Initially, it seemed daunting, but as I worked through it, I realized that once you understand the process, everything becomes manageable. This mindset carried over to all the calls I participated in; even if I faced difficulties, Sangeeta, Gautam, and Aishwarya were always there to help.
Through the stand-up calls, I gained insight into the incredible work being done across other departments and how everyone was united in working towards a common goal: creating true social impact.
During the accelerator and sprint, I had the surreal experience of meeting in person the people I had been working with online for so long. Initially, it felt daunting and intimidating, but as I interacted with everyone, I quickly realized how kind and accommodating they all were. The hotel felt like home, thanks to the warmth of the team, especially my roommate, Aashi, who made me feel welcome from day one. We kicked off with some fun drawing games, quizzes, and icebreakers, which everyone enjoyed and helped ease us into the event.
The accelerator briefing the next day was intense. With 24 NGOs participating, it was a critical moment as they were learning new skills and knowledge. I was responsible for handling the front desk, and while I initially felt nervous, my teammate Diksha made the process much easier. Conversations with her helped ease my shyness and made me feel more comfortable within the organization. As the NGOs started arriving, my excitement grew. Meeting the NGOs I had previously only interacted with online was both surreal and fulfilling. Their curiosity and enthusiasm were contagious, and I learned a lot from the sessions. I must give credit to Krishna and Tejas for their excellent presentations, which made complex concepts accessible and engaging for everyone.
Deeksha and I also gathered testimonials from various NGOs about their experiences with the accelerator. It was eye-opening to discover that, like me, many of them were initially intimidated by technology. However, the Glific team’s support, particularly the assignment of POCs to each table, made a significant difference. The NGOs appreciated the guidance, which made them more comfortable and confident in navigating the tech landscape.
The next day was a mix of work sessions and presentations, striking a perfect balance that facilitated easy learning. I also participated in several Google Cloud Storage setup calls, moving from table to table to assist NGOs in building their storage systems. Although I made mistakes at first, Gautam and Sangeeta were always there to help me correct them. After working with the first few organizations, I became much more comfortable with the process and completed the setups smoothly.
Interacting with the NGOs was invaluable. I gained insights into the incredible work these 24 NGOs were doing across various sectors, each using unique methods to create impact. This broadened my perspective and reinforced the idea that where there’s a problem, there’s always a way to solve it—if you have the initiative and passion.
A key takeaway from my interactions with the NGOs was that, despite their initial discomfort with technology, they were eager to learn and grow for their cause. They were willing to step out of their comfort zones to better their organizations and make a meaningful social impact.
Apart from the NGOs, meeting my teammates in person was also a highlight. I met many new people, in addition to those I had already worked with, and learned about their backgrounds and roles within the organization. This added a personal dimension to our professional relationships and made the experience even more enriching.
We also visited Goonj, an NGO focused on disaster management. This visit taught me about the importance of having a systematic approach to problem-solving and considering the diverse needs of the people involved. The key lesson I took away from Goonj was the value of creating solutions that empower people, making them feel like they’ve earned what they receive rather than just being given something for free.
Unfortunately, due to personal reasons, I wasn’t able to attend the last activity of the sprint. However, Aishwarya stepped in, not only handling the work for me but also offering personal support during a challenging time. Her kindness and willingness to go above and beyond made me feel cared for and reinforced the importance of having a supportive team.
Overall, my time at Glific taught me that no matter the challenge, empathy and teamwork are crucial. Whether it was Krishna, Sangeeta, Aishwarya, or Deeksha, everyone was there for me, making me feel valued and supported. It was this strong sense of community that made my internship so memorable.
By the end of my internship, I had grown into a more confident person, ready to tackle any problem with the knowledge that I had the support of a great team. I learned professional skills like Facebook verification, setting up Google Cloud Storage, organizing events, and much more.
I’m incredibly grateful to Krishna, Erica, and Radhika for providing me with this opportunity. This experience set a high standard for any future internships, and I will always look back on it fondly as my first step into the professional world.