June 27, 2026
by Elma Wazed
As an anthropology student, I reflected on my three-month internship at the Arannayk Foundation through an anthropological lens. From conducting fieldwork at Dhanmondi Lake to celebrating Mother Language Day, my journey captured my transition from a hesitant newcomer to a confident professional.
Venn diagram explaining liminality as the space between "No Longer" and "Not Yet" © WebAt the end of my internship journey, I often look back on the moment I chose to step outside my comfort zone and enter a state of liminality — a ‘betwixt and between’ phase — by joining an organization for three months. Doing an internship not only provides opportunities to learn and build a career but also offers a new identity, encourages adaptation to a new culture, and requires adjustment to an unfamiliar environment. After interviewing with several organizations, I chose Arannayk Foundation because I found that everyone here is empathetic, supportive, and genuinely committed to helping me to learn.
As an anthropology major, I began my internship as a Communication and Advocacy Intern.
My internship journey started with a Facebook campaign “Boner Bornomala” (which can be termed as ‘Alphabet of the Forest ' in English). I was initially afraid because I lacked sufficient knowledge about forests and related technical terms. However, over time, I realized that knowledge is not innate; it is something people gradually acquire through experience, especially within a supportive working environment.
Some posters from the "Boner Bornomala" (Alphabet of the Forest) Facebook campaign. © Arannayk Foundation/Arifur RahmanOne of the most wonderful parts of my experience was that I never felt ashamed of not knowing something, because everyone reminded me that this is a place to learn, and that’s why I came here. The friendly environment allowed me to grow, gaining knowledge and skills gradually, just like a toddler who learns through mistakes.
I began to enjoy my task, especially when environment and anthropology, two disciplines, merged together and turned into environmental anthropology during my fieldwork in Dhanmondi Lake. I visited the Dhanmondi Lake to understand the reciprocal relationship between humans and nature and conducted participant observation, which not only included observing people's activities around the lake but also actively participating with them, capturing pictures, and interviewing people.
One of the meaningful experiences I had was while editing a video for International Mother Language Day. I was fortunate to meet colleagues from diverse ethnic communities at Arannayk Foundation and learn about their mother tongues as I worked on the video. It allowed me to experience the beauty of linguistic diversity, and I personally appreciate the respect the Arannayk Foundation showed by highlighting those languages on such an important day.
An artist displaying his art for connoisseurs (Left) | Stacked garbage on the edge of the lake (Right) © Elma WazedAnother remarkable factor is that throughout the journey, I observed the implication and maintained policies in every aspect. I realized that policies are not limited to the documentation and paperwork. Policy implication creates the workplace more professional, supportive, inclusive, gender equal, and free from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment.
From my anthropological lens, the culture of the Arannayk Foundation reflects emotional intelligence like modern professionalism does. I experienced the genuine care and concern the workplace has for its employees. I especially appreciate the culture of having lunch together, which builds a stronger bond. I will miss the informal conversation during lunch where everyone maintains boundaries. A healthy and balanced informal conversation between colleagues provides a recreation, a little break from the workload, and later it boosts the energy to work more efficiently.
Over the three months, my internship journey has not only helped me gain skills and knowledge but also taught me that the feedforward strategy delivers psychological safety, which in turn shapes an individual’s behavior and growth.
Author presenting at the final presentation session at the Arannayk Foundation conference room © Arannayk Foundation/Arifur Rahman* The opinions expressed here are the author’s own and do not represent the official views of Arannayk Foundation.
Elma Wazed is a former intern at the Arannayk Foundation.
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