Darina awarded the Internship Grant to intern at TransferGratis in Cameroon

My name is Darina, an Ashinaga Cohort 9 student studying at University of Richmond. I major in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics & Entrepreneurship. With the support of Ashinaga, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at TransferGratis for my first summer.

TransferGratis is a new money transfer service which offers a quick, easy and secure alternative to sending money around the world. I interned as a software engineer intern for 8 weeks where I worked on the database of each transaction. I learned how to store and manage the information. I worked closely with some Backend developers at the company. I shadowed the employees and made a prototype of the application the company uses. I learned PHP, Laravel and MySQL which are valuable programming languages and well demanded in tech companies.

My internship at TransferGratis was a transformative experience that reinforced my passion for technology and innovation. Working in a startup made me experience an agile and fast-paced workflow, where adaptability and innovation are constant. The IT department was made up of four people which contributed to a natural environment for collaboration. I learned the importance of open communication, how to incorporate feedback, and the value of mentorship. In addition, working with an IT company allowed me to understand the level of technology in Cameroon and to what extent underprivileged people need to be educated to meet the requirement.

I am grateful to Ashinaga for their belief in my potential. They play an essential role in shaping my journey as a budding computer scientist. Their financial assistance allowed me to focus entirely on my work without the added stress of financial burdens. They provided mentorship and resources that helped me thrive during this crucial phase of my career development.