In November 2024, Pharmalys had the pleasure of welcoming representatives from LEAP Africa, the Central Partner of the Mastercard Foundation, to our offices in Dakar, Senegal. The visit provided an opportunity for the representatives to meet with the Pharmalys Academy of Clinical research Excellence (PACE) graduates and current interns at Pharmalys, who have been sponsored by the Mastercard Foundation.
The visit began with a meeting attended by team members of Pharmalys, where CEO Marieme Ba provided an overview of the organisation and introduced the managers who would be mentoring the interns. The LEAP Africa associates, Abdoulaye and Abi, introduced their organisation and the purpose of their visit – an evaluation of the current interns to ensure they are effectively learning in their roles. This session encouraged interns to openly share their experience, progress, and any challenges they had faced in their first two weeks working at Pharmalys. The information gathered would contribute to a report submitted to the Mastercard Foundation.
Following this, individual check-ins took place between the representatives and interns. Papa Samba Ba, an Information Technology (IT) Assistant interning at Pharmalys, shared his experience, emphasising how the internship allowed him to work towards his goals while gaining exposure to clinical research – a field entirely new to him, given his previous experience working for banks and other organisations. He reflected on the differences between managing clinical data and financial data, particularly in terms of the security requirements. Additionally, he spoke about developing his leadership skills and integrating into a multicultural team, which is comprised of team members across twenty countries and four continents.
Other interns also shared their experiences. Having started their internships just two weeks prior to the visit, they discussed their onboarding process, which included learning Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) in their respective fields, understanding the organisational structure, and familiarising themselves with their roles and colleagues. The visit provided a valuable space for open dialogue, ensuring that interns felt supported as they navigated their new professional environment.
The following day, Marieme Ba, the PACE graduates, and Pharmalys interns attended a networking event hosted by the Mastercard Foundation in Dakar. Samira, a Finance Assistant intern at Pharmalys, shared her reflections on her experience at the event. ‘What stood out the most to me was the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and learn about the foundation’s initiatives to support financial inclusion and social impact projects.’ She highlighted how insightful discussions on financial inclusion and community empowerment reinforced the importance of collaboration in driving meaningful change.
Abra, a Human Resources Assistant intern at Pharmalys, echoed similar sentiments about the event. She found the discussion forums between associates and employers particularly impactful, stating, ‘The main highlights were the sharing of experience by each beneficiary of the programme in relation to their duties at their workplace and the networking between beneficiaries.’
Beyond the networking opportunities, the interns reflected on their personal growth at Pharmalys. Samira emphasised how her role has given her visibility into financial project management, deepening her understanding of how structured processes contribute to successful contracts. Abra expressed enthusiasm for gaining practical experience in managing employee records and insurance files, stating, ‘Day after day, the tasks assigned to me enable me to understand even more about how Pharmalys works. I’m motivated to give more of myself and to continue learning so that I can be more useful to Pharmalys.’
As the Mastercard Foundation interns continue their journey at Pharmalys, they look forward to furthering their skill development and professional insights that will shape their future careers. The networking event reinforced the value of these partnerships in fostering professional growth, and both Samira and Abra expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and impactful organisation.
