Omalina Wolfe

This summer, I completed a 4 week-long Child Life Internship in Cape Town, South Africa through the organization Connect123. With a cohort of 15 people, we volunteered between two hospitals for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. We provided therapeutic play, pre- and post-procedural support, parental relief to caregivers, and supported patients from infancy to adolescence. When we weren’t at the hospital, we completed daily journals, developmental assessments, play observations, and various other assignments, alongside attending a workshop each week. Seeing that this was my first venture into the field of Child Life, I acquired incredible skills in assessing, observation, cultural adaptation, play, and documentation that have set me up for whatever practicum I decide to complete in the States or elsewhere! I was surprised with how much I learned about the values of the South African culture like community and unification. This is something I believe we need to value more in the United States. 

This experience has made me realize how much I absorb in a culturally diverse setting and inspires me to pursue being a Child Life Specialist all over the world in programs like these. I also realized how much I enjoy play and nature and am considering going into the field of Recreational Therapy, and potentially including therapeutic play and cross-cultural perspectives into my thesis. The Honors Internship Grant award allowed me to pay for my program fees which included housing, transportation, traveling, and more. I am thankful that I was granted this generous award for I was able to fully enjoy and learn from this experience in its entirety. If you are a student looking to apply for this award, do it!