MOHAN Foundation offers internship opportunities to interested individuals. These are awarded after screening the applications.
All interns are required to become life members of MOHAN Foundation. Click here to Register Become Life Member As we survive on limited resources, interns will be provided with a stipend towards their expenses depending on their commitments. This shall be paid at the end of second month after completion of one month and having a satisfactory report of performance. Interns for shorter term (one month and less) will not get any compensation. Accommodation and local conveyance expenses will need to be borne by the interns.
| Feedback - Participants' Speak... |
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Internship by Ms. Nora Pernesch, M.Sc (Human Security), Aarhus University, Denmark
My time here at MOHAN Foundation really was an invaluable experience in many aspects. As part of my master studies in Human Security I came here as a research intern on the topic of public trust in organ donation. What seemed to be a just a study internship turned out to be so much more. The people here at the foundation are really supportive and open-minded. In the beginning of course the Indian way of working and doing things can be quite challenging but with time I learned to go with the flow and would even say that my way of approaching things might have changed a little. Coming to India one simply has to be open to let go of his or her customs of organizing things and embrace flexibility. It will definitely pay out and I enjoyed the independence that I was given in pursuing my study.
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During my 4-months internship here I got the opportunity to participate in a lot of activities, including the organization of a big national conference, online marketing activities, educational programs, reviewing papers and even presenting an abstract at a national transplant coordinators meeting. My main focus however was on conducting interviews with various experts as well as families of deceased organ donors on the topic of public trust and their experience with the organ donation system in Tamil Nadu. MOHAN Foundation was extremely accommodating and helpful regarding the arrangement of contacts and scheduling appointments for the interviews and also they had a thorough eye on my personal and academic opportunities and development during and even after my stay here.
Besides Chennai city I have also traveled to several places in Tamil Nadu including Coimbatore and Trichy as well as several villages and places in Chennai surroundings always accompanied by at least one MOHAN employee. Through the interviews I got a very multifaceted impression about organ donation in Tamil Nadu and what it is that makes Tamil Nadu leading the way in deceased organ donation, such as the transparency of the allocation, trustworthiness of the doctors and health personnel as well as the vast government support. Still there are some challenges, like access to the treatment for all people, education and awareness about both organ donation itself and especially brain death, and myths about organ commercialism or incompatibility of organ donation and religious belief. For sure I have gained a lot of valuable knowledge based on which I am going to write my master thesis the coming six months.
I really value my time here at the foundation and am very thankful to each and everyone who has made the experience so special to my personal and professional development.
Feedback 2
Organ donation in India - Impressions from Mieke van Kollenburg, Holland
I am a Dutch student in Health information. On the 18th of May, I stepped into a plane full of Indians, leaving for Hyderabad to work in MOHAN Foundation for a period of four months. This internship would constitute the last part of my study. Now, almost at the end of my stay here, I have the feeling that I know the organ donation world in India almost from top to toe.
In the past months, I have been participating in all of MOHAN Foundation’s activities, like giving presentations, distributing information brochures, creating awareness in street campaigns, etcetera. At the same time, I interviewed all kinds of people that are involved in organ donation, like transplant coordinators and patients that received an organ themselves. Furthermore I did a small survey on the awareness on organ donation among the public.
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Due to this research I found out quite a few interesting things about organ donation in India. First of all, eye donation is pretty well known now. This procedure had been carried out for some decades now and has become quite common. But more than half of the people are not aware of the concept of organ donation yet. Brain death, which is the condition for organs to be taken out, is known by even less people. On the other hand, after explanation of the concepts of organ donation and brain death most people are very positive about it. After asking the question whether they would be willing to donate their own organs after their death, more than 80% answered this question with yes.
Despite this willingness to donate, far too few organs become available for patients suffering from end stage organ failure. If it’s not the people that refuse to donate, the problem has to lie somewhere else. I experienced that one of the hurdles is the attitude of the hospitals to declare brain death and maintain a brain dead patient. They don’t have a focus on this, because they prefer to provide the bed to another person or are afraid of a scandal (as still organ donation has a bad name in India) and ruin the good name of the hospital. However, at least six people can be saved from this brain dead person!
That’s why I think two things are very important to be done. One thing is to educate the public about organ donation and brain death, and make them aware of the fact that in cadaveric organ donation no trading takes place. Once they are aware of the possibility of organ donation in case of brain death, they will come forward for donation themselves. This would be encouraging to doctors who might then be more willing to make a request for organ donation in other such cases. The other thing is to convince hospitals that it’s important to declare brain death as a standard procedure because so many lives can be saved by the transplants.
And finally, it would be very desirable that the government raises some funds to help people in getting enough resources for the transplant. Currently, no social welfare system is there in India, and as a result poor people can never bear the costs of a transplant. Contradictorily, especially the less wealthy give consent to donate far more often than the richest of society.
In brief, I think there is a long way to go, but at least MOHAN Foundation is doing an excellent job and they are on the right track towards saving many lives of suffering people in India.
Mieke van Kollenburg
Intern in MOHAN Foundation Hyderabad
Click here to view Plan of Mieke's Internship at MOHAN Foundation
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Internship by Ms. Karen De Looze from Brussels University, Belgium
I first met Dr. Shroff of MOHAN Foundation in April 2009. I found my way to the office after having explored the entire MOHAN Foundation website that left a big impression on me. I was received with the best of hospitality, and together we looked at ways to cooperate.
Since I am a PhD researcher working for Brussels University working on the topic of brain death and cadaveric organ transfer in India, linking up with MOHAN Foundation just seemed like the right thing to do. Not just did it seem so, it was! The atmosphere at MOHAN Foundation is very gentle and light, notwithstanding the fact that the employees are performing one of the most difficult jobs with great enthusiasm investing all manpower with grace.
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Although my field study also requires that I travel to Vrindavan and Varanasi, returning to the MOHAN Foundation office in Chennai regularly always feels like coming home. I feel like working with MOHAN Foundation is like being part of a family where the family ties are the service that is delivered to society at large. I could even enjoy a short visit to MOHAN Foundation in Hyderabad and felt that same bond, of people being united in a joint cause, triggered by loving feelings for the community.
I have been working with MOHAN Foundation ever since that day in April, and my field research will continue until February 2011. I am most certain that I will be sad to end my stay here in Chennai and in extension India, but then again, our cooperation to deliver service to humanity never will.
Click Here to View The Research Article Published in National Medical Journal of India by Karen De Looze During Her Internship
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Internship by Ms. Susmitha, Masters in Public Health, SRM University, Chennai
My summer internship with MOHAN Foundation has been an invaluable experience. I have been challenged and pushed during my time here, which has made me a better public health professional. I feel that my work here has been extremely meaningful and my inputs are valued. I am grateful to work with such seasoned professionals in the fields of public health and development, and because of them, my time here has truly been inspiring. I would absolutely recommend working with MOHAN Foundation and would be thrilled to come back and work with this amazing organization again. My only regret is that I couldn’t stay longer.
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Internship by Ms. Shweta Gupta, Masters of Design, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
I had been in MOHAN Foundation for very short period of time. To work with the foundation was a very valuable experience for me. I worked on creating an awareness video on a sensitive issue - organ donation. This work was related to my master thesis project in IIT Guwahati and I am glad to spread this awareness through MOHAN Foundation. I feel very grateful to work for this noble cause with an energetic team. Thank you!
Click here to watch Live Beyond Life by Shweta Gupta
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Internship by Mr. Anubhav A Kediaa, Anna University, Chennai
My experience at MF was very valuable and enjoyable. Working with the dedicated team at MF was a very uplifting experience and I feel very blessed to have gotten an opportunity to work for MF and contribute to the noble cause that they serve.
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Internship by Ms. Sridivya, Srimad Andavan Arts & Science College, Trichy
As a Social work trainee, I learnt more details about Organ Donation. Same time enjoyed well to work with this team. It gave a new experience to me. I worked here independently. No one forced me to work. But all gave guidance to work with calmness.
Very first day of my internship, I didn’t know what to do. I was totally confused and came here only for getting my marks. But from second day, I started loving the work and felt comfortable to work. I now know more details about Brain death and Organ Donation.
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When I came here, I don’t know that the difference between Organ Donation and Body Donation, as well Brain death and Vegetative state. But now I knew very well about it. In my home town Trichy, no one will speak in English. Though I can understand well, yet I was nervous to talk in English. This nervousness is reduced.
I had to check the online version of the Indian Transplant Newsletter. This helped a lot to learn about the earlier work of MOHAN Foundation as well as some new Medical Terms. I went for two awareness programs on Organ Donation, one at Anna University and the other at Tata Consultancy Service (TCS, Thoraipakkam). At TCS, MOHAN Foundation gave me the opportunity to speak about Brain Death. It was a new feeling to me. This exposure will help to reduce my nervousness to talk in public. When I joined I did not know that I have the capacity to translate passages from English to Tamil. I learnt the skill of translation. I got more knowledge and learned some new Tamil words and English words also. I translated the Nurses Training Booklet from English to Tamil. The internship also made me learn the skill of Tamil typing, which I really I didn’t know well. Now I can type well in Tamil.
Then really amazing thing that I had the opportunity to write a Story about Heart Transplantation (Soul mate) to publish in magazines, though I don’t know how much it will work. It was an opportunity to think well about the theme and write story. I got the opportunity to attend an Indian Society of Organ Transplantation (ISOT - Midterm Meeting) Conference. I helped in the organization as well in the reporting during the conference. I gained more knowledge about Organ Transplantation and Law of Organ Donation. It was an Asian conference, so it helped me to collect more details about organ donation procedure in other countries like China, Iran, Srilanka, Nepal, Australia & Bangladesh.
At MOHAN Foundation, we can meet the higher authorities with ease and discuss any matter. All transplant coordinators were very helpful and made me a part of their team. They took time to go through all my outputs and corrected them. Seriously I say it from my heart. Really I enjoyed to work here and again I will return in May with a few classmates for Transplant Coordinators Training Programme.
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Internship by Ms. Anjali Aryamvally, B.Tech, Genetic Engineering, SRM University, Chennai
When I decided to intern with MOHAN Foundation, my support for the cause of organ donation was the only reason. My internship at MF has allowed me to meet people from all walks of life with a strong commitment towards the work that they do. The three months that I spent here was not just knowledgeable but I was also able to witness the extensive ammount of work that goes behind making organ donation more acceptable among the public. Today, I not only support the cause but understand the importance of organ donation in todays day and time.
I would like to thank the entire team at MOHAN Foundation for all their help, warmth and support. I came as a stranger but I leave as a member of the MOHAN Foundation family.
Feedback 9
Internship by Mr. Atul Sagaya Dorai Prem, Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship, Chennai
There is no doubt that MOHAN Foundation is one of the best NGOs in India which works for Organ donation awareness. For the past twenty days with them, I experienced on how even small things could be done professionally. Bureaucracy is minimum and ambitious youngsters would love to work and grow with it.
Fortunately, I along with other staff had the opportunity to organize the Rangoli event “Rangoli festival at the metro” for the NGO. It was led by Dr. Hemal and team. It was an absolute pleasure when we had complete support from our Managing Trustee, Dr. Sunil Shroff and our Country Director, Mrs. Lalitha Raghuram at the time of organizing the event.
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I was able to understand the value of a donation when I conducted an online research for celebrity recipients. I read about many cases where patients used their second chance to reach greater heights in their professions. I analysed the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue Rules 2015 and simplified them for the users.
Now, thanks to MOHAN foundation, I have the confidence to conduct Public campaigns, present PPT’s, and so on flawlessly.
The determination of the staff here when they work will say it all. 100% efforts by their employees help them to remain at the top in their field of work. I would definitely love to work with MOHAN foundation in the free time I get.
Feedback 10
Internship by Mr. Britzer Paul V, JIPMER
I am a Physician Assistant with two years of experience in the department of hepatology and liver transplantation from Gleneagles Global Hospital, Chennai. Now I am a student of Masters in Public Health in JIPMER.
I joined MOHAN Foundation as an intern for 4 months in 2018. During my internship I worked on a twenty one year survey data and analyzed how the knowledge and attitude have changed over the period of time. The research paper is also being submitted based on this work.
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The second study that I conducted was among the families who opted not to donate the organs of their brain dead family member. This study was useful to identify, overcome certain barriers and improve processes of organ donation. The third study was to explore the opportunities and challenges faced by the transplant coordinators in organ donation process. Understanding the mindset of new as well as senior transplant coordinators will help in strengthening the organ donation process and thereby to increase the consent rate.
Other than my research collaboration, I was involved in ten awareness campaigns conducted among the various colleges in Chennai, hospitals and NCC cadets. I framed English lessons for school students on organ donation, lessons on organ donation for nursing students and also a lesson for the role of medical social workers in organ donation. I studied the protocol for the formation of IEC for MOHAN Foundation. I had the opportunity to meet MOHAN Foundation teams from different parts of the country. This gave me a vision of how people from different part of the country work towards organ donation.
Above all the working environment was friendly for an intern. An intern is given full freedom to carry out their own independent research. The staff in the organization are approachable both personally and even through email. Their guidance enriched my independent research. MOHAN Foundation has a wide and strong network with professionals working towards ethical organ donation and are open to sharing their links to develop ourselves. They work with full enthusiasm and care.
Though my internship had come to an end. I would like to give my support in future to the MOHAN Foundation towards the improvement in organ donation.
Feedback 11
Internship by Ms. Nimisha Papineni, Pondicherry University
I am a student of Pondicherry University pursuing II year integrated MSc Statistics. I joined MOHAN Foundation as an intern for 35 days from mid-May to mid-June of 2018. During my internship I worked on a survey conducted on 400 police officials of Tamil Nadu and analysed the basic demographic features of the respondents. I was involved in public and police awareness programs, creation of data bases, translations, public surveys and data analysis and visualisation.
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During this internship I learned how to work practically with statistics,cleaning data using software like SPSS,tableau, excel etc,I had done some cartoon translations on organ Donation. Conducting surveys gave me a glimpse of how the public views organ donation.
Coming to the work environment it was encouraging and very friendly. An intern is given full freedom to express their ideas and they guide accordingly.Their encouragement created lot more interest in me to do creative things for awareness Organ Donation. I extend my support to MOHAN Foundation in future whenever needed,for creating awareness in public and to increase number of Organ Donation.
Feedback 12
Internship by Ms. Sharmila Palin, KCTBS, Coimbatore.
Hi, I’m Sharmila Palin, I’m doing my MBA in Business Analytics at KCTBS, Coimbatore. I did my data analytics internship in MOHAN Foundation. I was just randomly applying for my academic internships in online, it’s always been my dream to work for social cause and so the internship in MOHAN Foundation interested me. The first three days in MOHAN Foundation was like boring because they asked me to read and learn about organ donation concepts. You know reading about topics which is totally unrelated to you will really bore you and that’s what happened to me. But when I went for my first campaign to NSS camp in Kanchipuram and explaining the concepts of organ donation and its importance, got my involvement in this internship job.
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The learning during those three days helped me to understand things while I was in the campaigns; it helped me understand things better.
After that I was working on TABLEAU which is the data visualization software. I was making maps on the donor registry for the year 2014 to 2017. I came as a Tableau beginner and now I’m leaving as a Tableau intermediate. It’s all because of the people in MOHAN Foundation who constantly supported and encouraged me to learn things inside and outside the organisation. MOHAN Foundation is one of the best places to learn the basic skills. I have attended three campaigns on organ donation and assisted as a trainer in two Angels of Change volunteer programs. The people in MF encouraged me in all possible ways. There have been many learning opportunities during my internship. Each and everyone have their contribution of encouraging me. Everything happened within two months, time ran so fast, I’m going to miss all the people and the days I spent here.
More than anything I’m thankful and grateful to the organisation. I would like to thank Dr. Sunil Shroff for accepting all my works and efforts and my special thanks to Dr. Hemal Kanvinde who took care of me, who taught me, who encouraged me to learn new skills I didn’t know I could develop, who pushed me to better myself during the days in MF. And thanks to all my friends in MF who made my days fun here. I promise that I will be supporting and find all possible ways to spread the awareness on organ donation.
Feedback 13
Internship by Mr. Diego Vallejo Riofrio, International Degree in Economics, Universidad de Navarra, Spain.
My experience in India and in MOHAN foundation this summer has undoubtedly been one of the most gratifying memories of my life. During the year, while I was searching for an internship for the summer and I came across MOHAN foundation online, its webpage, stories and activities left me astonished. The impact this NGO had in Indian society motivated me to apply, and later on, accept spending my summer in India working on an Economics Research project with Dr. Shroff under the guidance of Dr. Hemal Kanvinde.
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As an economics student, one does not expect to work directly with the medical sector. However, this has made me able to understand the importance of health in society and how economics has a major role in its function. Because of this fact, I can state that I am now more interested than ever in Health Economics. Furthermore, an important aspect which I have not addressed before, was organ donation in general. As such an important topic for every family and society, I am now more aware of what surrounds this topic and therefore, I am able to continue with MOHAN foundation’s goal of spreading awareness.
At first, when one arrives in India, the natural reaction is fascination with the spirituality of people, the hospitality, and the food! My experience was invaluable because in this office I have never expected such a warm welcome. Although I was so far away from home, I always felt home, and this permitted me to learn even more than expected.
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