91社区

My name is Sara Saleem Daredia, and I am currently pursuing a BA degree at 91社区, majoring in International Development and minoring in Environment. As someone of Pakistani origin, I am aware and deeply concerned about

the increasing frequency of climate disasters in Pakistan. Statistically speaking, Pakistan ranks as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change. This awareness was starkly reinforced when, just two weeks after my visit to Pakistan in the summer of 2022, unprecedented monsoon floods and glacial lake outburst flooding submerged a third of the country. These events developed my passion for exploring initiatives to combat climate change in Pakistan and other similarly vulnerable countries. My interests lie in advancing agricultural practices, developing early warning systems, addressing climate injustice, promoting community-driven climate initiatives, and raising awareness about climate vulnerability in underdeveloped regions, both nationally and globally.

When I learned about the opportunity to intern at Ibex Media Network (IMN), I was immediately drawn to the role. IMN is a non-profit media organization dedicated to fostering positive change in Pakistan, particularly in the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region. With its headquarters in Islamabad and Gilgit, IMN operates as a comprehensive news, awareness-raising,

and content creation platform. It further collaborates with local non-profit and governmental organizations to amplify their messages and initiatives. This role aligned very well with my interests and academic pursuits, and I saw it as a chance to bridge my academic knowledge with practical experience.

During my internship, I aimed to deepen my understanding of the implications of climate change on GB鈥檚 mountainous communities and their surrounding environments, with a particular focus on agriculture and food security. I also wanted to enhance my communication skills by serving as a crucial link between IMN and various environmental and social development partner organizations, such as the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Furthermore, I sought to learn about Miyawaki and Block Plantation, understand the adverse effects of monoculture practices and pesticide misuse on mountain ecosystems, and grasp the significance of glaciers and snow reserves in mountain agriculture. Additionally, I aimed to improve my video creation, editing, and interview conducting skills, as well as my report writing and video-reporting abilities to communicate research outcomes effectively.

My responsibilities at IMN included facilitating communication, collaboration, and coordination between the media organization and its partner organizations. One of my primary tasks was assisting in the assessment and creation of case studies for Community-based Block Plantation Projects conducted by AKSRP. These projects included Block Plantations, Miyawaki forests, and Agro-Forestry, all of which are significant climate mitigation efforts. I evaluated the impact, effectiveness, and sustainability of these projects through data collection, analysis, and reporting processes. This role directly aligned with my academic studies in international development and environment. Additionally, I was involved in AKRSP鈥檚 project called Central Asia Poverty Program (CAP), where I created video reports that included key observations and recommendations for project improvement. I also participated in brainstorming and creating climate-related content for IMN to highlight GB鈥檚 climate vulnerability and raise national awareness.

One of the highlights of my internship was discovering that most of the plantations in the lush green valleys of GB are human made, with few natural forests that are primarily found at higher elevations. This realization underscored the significant influence humans can have on their environments. Nevertheless, the internship also presented challenges, particularly understanding projects fully without visiting them in person. Overcoming this required visiting possible project sites, meeting project leaders, and learning about their work firsthand. Understanding AKRSP鈥檚 broad and seemingly vague vision was another challenge. However, through research and reading about the organization鈥檚 history, I came to appreciate its comprehensive approach to various aspects of development.

This internship profoundly impacted my university experience by allowing me to apply my academic knowledge on a local scale, specifically in researching the effects of climate change on vulnerable mountainous communities, agriculture, food security and poverty, and creating relevant reports. It deepened my interest in my minor in Environment and influenced my course selection for the remainder of my university studies. Moreover, it equipped me with valuable skills that will guide me throughout my academic and professional journey.

I am immensely grateful for the funding that made this internship possible. It would have been impossible for me to organize such an international internship on my own. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Currie, whose generous donation to the Arts Internship Office enabled this transformative experience.