Victoria Zhekov, studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at UWA with a Pharmacology major, overcame self-doubt to support Foodbank WA with a rewarding and meaningful internship in Semester 1.
Victoria was hesitant to apply for the McCusker Centre for Citizenship’s internship program, but said that overcoming her anxiousness and getting out of her comfort zone had built her confidence, opened her eyes to the importance of volunteering, and given her new perspective on her future career.
“The internship program sounded fun and exciting, but at first I was hesitant about going into in a real-life work setting, not knowing what to expect out of it,” she said.
Victoria was matched with the Nutrition and Cooking Support Intern Role with Foodbank WA, where she supported public health nutritionists delivering face-to-face sessions, as well as working behind the scenes on essential administrative tasks.
“With the massive support I received from everyone at my internship, I realised there was nothing to be afraid of and that people want to listen to my ideas and opinions,” Victoria said.
“The nom! nutrition and cooking program involves an hour-long informative session, talking about the importance of a healthy diet, shopping on a budget. food safety, food waste, and more. This is followed by an hour of cooking healthy and easy meals together before sharing the meals and connecting as a group.
“Foodbank is a hunger relief organisation, and they cater to everyone in the community no matter what their background or the struggles or difficulties they are facing in life. Their goal is to strive for everyone to be able to put food on the table and to know how important healthy eating is.
“Being able to work with a diverse range of people and see them feel happy and safe in the environment we provided was a highlight - seeing a smile on their faces at the end of the programs was truly the most rewarding element of my internship.”
Catherine Dumont, Nutrition and Cooking Program Manager at Foodbank WA, said that Victoria had helped her prepare sessions, assisted during the cooking activities and with writing evaluation reports at the end of the program.
“Victoria was a strong asset in discussion and interacting with young people,” Ms Dumont said.
“She was proactive and gained a lot of confidence during her internship, and ended up delivering a presentation on vitamins and minerals supplements during our Lunch and Learn at work session.”
The positive internship experience reinforced Victoria’s desire to work in healthcare, while expanding her perspective on future career opportunities.
“The internship showed me how much I want to work in healthcare, to help people to the best of my abilities. It opened my eyes to career pathways I hadn’t considered before, while also showing me the benefits of volunteering.
“This whole experience made me more confident, and I’m proud of myself because I never thought I would be able to put myself out there in the way I did and achieve what I was able to. I will always be grateful for everyone who was there to help and support me on this journey.”