By Shona Lynch Morimoto | Project Leader
AAI Scholars Kundai and Samuel made the most of their experience with Arkray.Inc Japan
The Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) is an international leadership program that cultivates the next generation of leaders to contribute to the development of sub-Saharan Africa.
One of the ways AAI Scholars develop their leadership skills are by completing internships during their undergraduate studies. In summer 2021, we had a chance to interview Kundai and Samuel, two AAI Scholars who completed their summer internship with Arkray Inc. Japan, a Healthcare and medical device manufacturing company located in Kyoto, Japan. Arkray’s vision is to contribute to the well-being of people around the world through technology. Arkray conducts research, develops, manufactures, distributes, and provides after-sales services for clinical testing instruments, reagents, and data management systems used for diagnosis, treatment, and medical examinations.
Kundai is an AAI Scholar from Zimbabwe who is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering. His internship with Arkray taught him a range of skills like negotiation, communication, and teamwork. Kundai was responsible for finding distributors in African markets and promoting product awareness development in Africa. In addition, the project allowed him to meet with major stakeholders in the medical field in Africa and leading figures such as Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Japan.
In Kundai’s own words: “This has been one of the most exciting experiences for me. It was more than just an internship. I built strong connections and fell in love with Japan. I am very grateful for Ashinaga and Arkray for the opportunity to learn and grow.”
Samuel is from Rwanda. He started his internship with Arkray to learn more about the Japanese work culture. In addition to applying his skills to real-world problems, Samuel expanded his network and learned to communicate effectively in professional settings.
During his internship with Arkray, Samuel managed social media campaigns for a medical device. His projects included market research and content creation. As a result, he was able to apply his knowledge, strengthen his existing skills and develop new ones. For instance, Samuel was responsible for a new video project that included scripting, shooting, and video editing. According to Samuel: “This internship allowed me to work on diverse projects and
develop various skills. But above all, I learned about the work culture in Japan and connected with my colleagues beyond our work hours”.
Samuel and Kundai highlighted the importance of balancing hard and soft skills in the workplace. When we asked them what advice they would give to aspiring AAI scholars, Samuel said, ” It is essential to invest in creating meaningful connections with your colleagues. Beyond working on the same projects, try to learn more about them and try to spend time with the outside of work”.
During the presentation, Mr Yoshinaga, a representative from Arkray, shared his appreciation for Kundai and Samuel’s hard work and contributions to the company, adding that he looks forward to working with more AAI Scholars in the future. Ashinaga is proud to see talented AAI Scholars like Samuel and Kundai progress in their career paths while developing new skills. Arkray shares their commitment to continue collaborating and creating more opportunities for learning and growth for scholars.
We want to show our sincere appreciation for the generous support you have shown us to make this internship possible.
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