Letizia Dell’Asin
Impact: Our Volunteer
Letizia transfered her research skills and understanding of development into a placement in communications and project support. Letizia now works for International SOS, the world’s largest provider of medical assistance and international healthcare.
Impact: The Placement
Letizia raised $90,000 in funding for our partner, successfully set up a human rights club project and managed a baseline health study which was key to establishing a project raising awareness of disabilities.
2Way Development Volunteer: Letizia Dell’Asin
Before her placement, Letizia spent 5 years studying a variety of courses in Europe related to International Relations and International Development. During this time she completed 3 research theses on development based themes and an internship programme with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen.
Letizia was motivated to volunteer as she needed a platform to help shape her research in the future and her career progression. Volunteering was a way of gaining solid work experience to help direct her career into health and human rights. She wanted to build on her research skills to include the collection and analysis of data, donor relations and report writing. She had studied the project cycle in depth, from stakeholder identification to risk analysis and wanted practical management and strategy formation experience.
The Match
Letizia’s skills were well matched to CHEMS’ needs and she spent 8 months with the charity from December 2010, assisting with organisational development, fundraising and project work. Letizia spent her time researching and writing funding proposals through conducting interviews with communities in the field. She learnt how to monitor and evaluate the impact of a project and wrote extensive reports for relevant donor organisations. She also spent time with CHEMS’ staff discussing methodologies and terms for report writing, which helped build long-term capacity within the organisation.
Impact: Letizia’s Career Progression
“My placement has influenced my career aspirations and goals. Firstly it has provided me with in depth knowledge of the health sector, specifically how the media can be used to raise awareness of HIV-AIDS, STIs and sexual reproductive health issues. Secondly, with my new skills in project evaluation, proposal writing and health sector knowledge, I gained a job in London with International SOS, the world’s largest provider of medical assistance and international healthcare, supporting medical doctors in remote sites in the world”.
2Way Development Partner: Cambodia Health Education Media Services (CHEMS)
Letizia's placement was with our partner the Cambodia Health Education Media Services (CHEMS) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. CHEMS works mainly in the field of sexual and reproductive health, by providing accurate and appropriate information and education through the use of effective media, communication and advocacy activities. The 2 areas of focus within the organisation are:
- Media production, campaigns and training, including a popular radio soap opera focused on reproductive health issues.
- Advocacy & outreach programmes, such as youth focus groups and community theatre.
CHEMS required good organisation, planning and communication skills from a volunteer, as well as an understanding of the aims and objectives of development projects.
Impact: The Placement
- Letizia compiled proposals for, and acquired 59,000 USD support from UNICEF’s project on malnutrition and food security
- She also acquired 35,000 USD funding from the Australian Red Cross
- She designed and carried out a baseline survey and interviews with key stakeholders involved in a project to raise awareness of disabilities
- She researched and wrote proposals for the UN Democracy Fund, Population Services International, Family Health International, European Commission and more
- She travelled to 10 provinces to recruit members for local Listeners’ Clubs (radio focus groups) a project funded by the World Bank
