WCC Internship Experience
Yeoh Zhi Wei
Psychology, SEGi College Penang
July 2026
Before I interned at WCC, I often wondered what services NGOs offer and how their work was sustained. During my internship at WCC, I received exposure towards numerous social issues that our community faced in Malaysia, giving me a better perspective on how social workers with mental health and legal backgrounds assist clients meaningfully and transform their livelihoods with each action.
During my internship, I was primarily assigned to create promotional contents for WCC Value Shop and assist with administrative tasks. While the intersection between the field of psychology and contents creation might not be apparent at first glance, I was able to extend my knowledge by independently researching psychology principles behind content creation and marketing. My most memorable task was when I was entrusted with the objective of increasing the number of followers on WCC Value Shop’s Instagram page during an outreach programme, and I was able to link the task to a psychology concept that I had learnt.
In addition, I had the opportunity to observe the counselling sessions conducted by the social workers. It was fascinating to observe that each social worker has a distinct way of approaching the clients and cases, but all of them collectively contribute to the betterment of society. Occasionally, I was disheartened when listening to the clients’ sharing of their sufferings, but I admired their courage to step forward and seek help from WCC. Thanks to the WCC team’s unwavering commitment to counter injustice against women and children for the past 41 years, victims are empowered to make decisions in steering the direction of their lives.
My internship experience at WCC has been nothing less than acquiring new knowledge, connecting with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and gaining exposure to real-life issues in the present society. All of these cemented my belief that interning at WCC was the right choice. I am deeply grateful to all the social workers, volunteers, and peer interns for welcoming me with warmth and kindness, and I hope the upcoming interns will find their experience at WCC a memorable one.
Farhah Ayra Binti Abdul Rahim
Graphic Communication, USM
June 2026
WCC was my first in many ways – in internships, an all-women workplace, NGOs, book designing, volunteering, content creating, meeting like-minded people, handling booths, working independently and helping fellow interns. I will always sing the praises of the positive work environment because I felt supported, respected, and acknowledged every day, even as an intern.
The small team of dedicated women of WCC continues to surprise me with their knowledge and humbleness. The respect and understanding they show each other foster strong friendships among the staff, which directly reflects how they treat their clients and their work. Joining case-sharing sessions emphasised the hard work required to be a social worker. As our work directly correlates with the current issues in our communities, I learnt to think critically, objectively and empathetically.
Interning at WCC exposed me to different work areas, giving me valuable insight into the importance of NGOs. The biggest opportunity was to design WCC’s Annual Review 2025. I was very intimidated at first, as it is my first real design work outside of university. Having the organisation’s confidence in my design skills was truly beneficial to my growth as a designer. It taught me to believe in myself and in all that I’ve learnt to communicate effectively through my designs.
Another area of work that I will always remember is conducting outreach programmes at the schools around Penang. Interacting with the children highlighted how important it is to learn and discuss topics such as personal boundaries, cybersafety and sexual violence at a young age. It affects how they perceive their actions and helps some to understand the experiences they have gone through. It was meaningful to be a part of the children’s education.
For the last four months, my primary responsibility has been designing posts and making reels for the pre-loved charity store, WCC Value Shop’s social media platforms. It was challenging for me to film video content and start a consistent grid theme, but I learnt a lot in the process. I get to use my design knowledge to promote sustainability that supports the longevity of WCC’s core work. It also solidified my interest in textiles and circular fashion.
I am truly grateful for the opportunity to intern at WCC. It’s a great place to learn, discuss and expose myself to what life has to offer. I am very proud to have been part of the team for four months and would suggest others to experience the wonderful journey I had here.
Yap Qin Qi
Foreign Languages and Literatures,
National Taiwan University
February 2026
Over my six weeks at WCC, I learned a great deal about NGO work, particularly WCC’s role in uplifting and empowering women and children. There was always something new to learn each day, which made the experience both enriching and fulfilling.
Through content creation for WCC Value Shop’s social media, I picked up new skills in video-making and storytelling. I also learned more about the Shop at Island 88, which sells pre-loved items to raise funds for WCC’s core services while promoting sustainability. Helping out in the Shop and filming content allowed me to meet many passionate and generous individuals, which made the experience even more rewarding.
I was also grateful for the opportunity to participate in service-related activities such as case-sharing meetings and shadowing consultation sessions. Seeing social workers in action was eye-opening, and I learned more about domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and the complex social issues faced by women and children. This experience broadened my perspective, and seeing survivors receive the support they needed was deeply meaningful. Through this experience, I feel more empowered and equipped with greater awareness of gender-based violence and the resources available to support victims.
Additionally, I had the chance to take part in the OK Tak OK school outreach programme. It was empowering to see students learn about sexual abuse and consent through education. I was especially impressed by how the talks were designed to be engaging and age-appropriate for elementary school students.
Beyond knowledge and skills, one of the most meaningful aspects of this internship was learning from the incredible team at WCC. Despite being a small team handling a considerable number of cases, the staff were consistently positive, dedicated, caring, and resilient. The work environment felt respectful and inclusive, and everyone was always patient in answering my questions and sharing valuable advice. I learned a great deal from their character—how they deal with pressure, practise self-care, stay grounded, and set boundaries—which is especially important in this line of work. This reminded me that even while fighting for justice and equality, it is important (if not non-negotiable) to take care of yourself first.
Overall, this was a truly meaningful internship, and I feel much more empowered seeing how meaningful change can be enacted to support women and children in need.
Dr Hasvaany Manoharan
Medical Officer, Department of Psychiatry,
Hospital Pulau Pinang
February 2026
My experience at WCC was a valuable and reflective one. It provided practical exposure to community-based work focused on women and children affected by violence. Observing the organisation’s approach offered useful insight into how advocacy, support, and service provision can be carried out at the community level in a structured manner.
One of the key takeaways from my time at WCC was the emphasis placed on empowering women after facing tribulations and challenges. The work is guided by a good understanding of trauma and the need to support survivors while paving ways for them to recover their sense if independence. This reinforced the importance of careful listening and holistic support when working with these vulnerable populations.
The experience also highlighted the role of collaboration between professionals, community organisations, and support networks. Seeing how WCC engages across systems broadened my perspective beyond individual-level interventions and underscored the importance of social and structural considerations in addressing violence and those affected by it.
Overall, my time at WCC contributed to my professional development by strengthening my awareness of gender-based violence, advocacy work, and community-centred responses. It offered a grounded understanding of the challenges involved in this field and the steady, behind-the-scenes effort required to sustain meaningful support services.