At Fenego, we wanted to make our internship projects more meaningful. According to Lisa, the internship supervisor at Fenego, the results of previous projects were often impressive but not utilised further. "We wanted to change that by partnering with an organization that truly benefits from our efforts," says Lisa. This led to the collaboration with Sabine from LuKiArt.

This year's internship group was tasked with developing an app for LuKiArt. This app, LuKiAppie, allows children to upload and share their artwork. "This is especially valuable for children homebound due to illness," Lisa explains. "Art becomes a means to foster social connections and bridge the gap to the outside world."

This internship offered a unique opportunity for the interns, Mieszko and Turgut. "We worked with a real client, gaining valuable practical experience," says Mieszko. "The guidance was excellent, with regular stand-ups and direct access to LuKiArt vzw, giving us insight into client expectations and project management."

To provide the students with a realistic work experience, Fenego used the same tools as for client projects, such as Jira for ticketing and Confluence for documentation. This ensured that the students could prepare for real client projects effectively. With these tools, they could work efficiently and document and plan their project thoroughly.

The students not only learned technical skills but also important soft skills. "The biggest challenge was accurately interpreting and implementing the client's needs into the application," shares Mieszko. Turgut adds, "I had to adjust my playful nature and learned to communicate professionally."

Both Mieszko and Turgut highly recommend other students to consider an internship with a non-profit. "It offers a realistic view of how things work in practice and gives you a good feeling that you're doing something for a good cause," says Mieszko. "At Fenego, you are warmly welcomed and always have guidance," adds Turgut. Moreover, Mieszko and Turgut were so thrilled with their internship at Fenego that they decided to join us full-time!

The collaboration between Fenego and LuKiArt vzw not only resulted in a successful app but also provided a valuable learning experience for the interns. This project demonstrates how companies and non-profits can create social impact together. Fenego sees a promising future for social projects and looks forward to future collaborations. "This internship was a success, and we are certainly open to further partnerships, both with LuKiArt vzw and other non-profits," says Lisa. "It's fulfilling to contribute to such meaningful initiatives." Fenego remains committed to projects that make a difference.