Page 19 A perspective provided by Jael Daniel O n August 4th, 2021, I started my internship at CARICAD, which was facilitated through the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility Segregated Portfolio Company (CCRIF SPC). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a virtual internship, with my work being guided through WhatsApp, emails, and Microsoft Teams meetings. For a little over two months I worked on preparing a guide for geological hazards in the Caribbean region. Those hazards include volcanic events, earthquakes, landslips and landslides. The emphasis of the guide is on the significance of the hazards and the role of the public sector of CARICAD Member States in planning and preparing for such hazards. Through my desk research and interviews with professionals in the field of Disaster Risk Management, I gained knowledge of this topic which I had only just started to learn about. The interviews especially, were a good on-the-job learning opportunity and helped to build my self-confidence. I was very excited to be involved in this project due to my academic background. I studied Sociology and Psychology for my undergraduate degree at the University of the West Indies and I am currently doing my Masters in Sustainable Development with the University of London. I was able to use my skills in the Social Sciences and my evolving knowledge in Climate Change when developing the guide and I enjoyed using those specific tools while also learning more about geological hazards and Disaster Risk Management. Despite the internship being conducted remotely, I always felt guided by Mr. Franklyn Michael, my supervisor, who gave me the freedom to lead my own efforts but also provided resources and knowledge to aid in my work being done well. While I would have appreciated an in-person job experience, I don’t necessarily feel robbed from not having it, as I was still able to learn and gain professional experience, while also receiving insight and wisdom from the CARICAD team.
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