In Conversation with Bee, our Intern
Bee Prideaux joined the team at Empathy Action in 2020 just as the pandemic was taking hold. Her internship has been very different to the norm as she has had to fit into a virtual operation – a challenge that she has met with enthusiasm and flair.
A year on, Bee explains how and why she got involved with Empathy Action, and how she has found her experience.
EA: Where are you based and what do you do when you are not volunteering with EA?
BP: I’m based in South London and I spent the first lockdown with my family in Kent and since then I have been back in my little room in Kennington. I trained as an actor and will spend the next few years giving that a shot which means I will be waitressing mainly!
EA: How did you hear about Empathy Action and why did you want to volunteer?
BP: I got involved with EA after I finished drama school mid pandemic as I certainly couldn’t pursue acting. I know Ben Solanky from church in Tunbridge Wells and aimed to do something meaningful with all the spare time I suddenly had.
EA: What role do you play with EA?
BEE: At EA I mainly supervise the social media channels and help craft campaigns that have gone out through the year to spotlight the products we sell. I also contribute to the grant fundraising applications and have been involved in the team aiming to create a new adaptation of Desperate Journeys.
Bee inviting participants to send a ‘Friendship from Syria’ bracelet at our Social Hackathon.
EA: Favourite project you have worked on since you joined EA?
BEE: I’ve enjoyed the interactive elements of the year such as the UCL Hackathon that I helped Ben to lead. I’ve also enjoyed being able to use my own initiative and research tasks independently which has given me an element of choice. Filming ‘The High Life’ was also a great experience particularly as I was able to meet many of the team members that I had only seen on Zoom.
EA: How has it been doing your internship during the pandemic?
BEE: I am very grateful to have been able to do this internship during the pandemic as it offered the opportunity to develop many new skills and offered an insight into the charity sector which I would love to develop one day depending on how the acting goes! It was a shame not to be able to meet volunteers in person and work face-to-face but hopefully I will have the opportunity to witness one of the simulations live in schools in June.
EA: Empathy Action seeks to increase empathy and raise awareness of global deprivation, and inspire compassionate action. Do you feel your work with EA has affected you?
BEE: My time with EA has certainly increased my awareness of global deprivation and has encouraged me that there are people aiming to change perceptions and attitudes with creative solutions. I believe that Empathy is a very powerful tool for all of us and it has certainly affected the way I think about my role as a global citizen.
EA: Use three words to sum up your experience with EA.
BEE: It has been informative, satisfying and thought-provoking
EA: As we ease out of lockdown, what top three tips have you learned and what are you most looking forward to being able to do?
BEE: My tips would be: long walks with podcasts, taking on a new challenge or skill so you feel like you are progressing (intern with EA!), and cooking. Unsurprisingly, I am most looking forward to getting back in a theatre!
Thank you Bee!
Are you looking for experience in the charity sector? Or do you know someone who is?
An internship is a brilliant way to challenge and immerse yourself in a small but ambitious organisation, whilst learning new skills.
If you’d like to learn more, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you! And please share this article with anyone who might be interested.