My first 50 days at ACH: Sahaj Shah
When I first joined ACH as an Employability and Community Outreach Intern, I was eager to make a meaningful impact. My goal has always been to support individuals in their career and job search journeys, and this role felt like the perfect fit. On my first day, I was both nervous and excited – ready to learn, connect, grow, and contribute.
I initially expected this role to involve tasks such as assisting with CV writing, interview preparation, and career advice, but my experience has gone far beyond that. I’ve built connections with incredible colleagues, delivered impactful workshops, and gained confidence in public speaking and teamwork. Leading sessions on enhancing life skills, wellbeing, and providing employment support has been a rewarding experience, showing me just how powerful community engagement can be.
One of the biggest takeaways from this experience is how much I have grown both professionally and personally. “Joining ACH has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. I now feel more confident than ever in my ability to support others and create meaningful change.”
Among many experiences, two projects stand out – Mental Health and Employment Support workshop, where I helped clients manage job – related stress, and the Life Skills for Employment session, which used interactive activities to teach teamwork and communication. Seeing participants gain confidence and practice new skills has been incredibly fulfilling.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was language barriers, making it difficult at times to communicate effectively with clients. Thankfully, with the help of translators and support from my colleagues, we found ways to bridge this gap. Another significant challenge was transport issues – many refugees and migrants struggled to attend session due to long travel distances and cost, to address this we relocated sessions to community centres, ensuring everyone received the support they needed.
If I could offer one piece of advice to anyone starting a similar role, it would be to approach everything with empathy and patience. Working with diverse communities mean understanding the challenges they face and adapting to their needs. Build strong relationships with your colleagues and clients, don’t be afraid to seek help, and embrace every learning opportunity that comes your way.
As my 7 – month placement comes to an end, I leave with a deep appreciation for the work I have done to support communities. The skills I have developed will surely stay with me as I move forward in my career. This experience has reinforced my passion for making a positive impact as well as a commitment to creating inclusive spaces and helping people overcome barriers to success.
