DAGMAWI MEKONNEN
LCVP IGCDP 16/17 Applicant
DAGMAWI MEKONNEN
+251910844922
Mkidane4@gmail.com
Skype: Mtk433
Section 1: Who are you? 1. What scares you the most about this application? ”Of all the hardships a person had to face , none was more punishing than the simple act of waiting.” We all have that anticipation towards how our actions will lead to , and the fact that I want the application to be very good scares me a little. Maybe a lot .
2. Describe your personality to a 5 year old. I'm like Batman, I don't have super speed, I don't have super strength or nor do I have a ring and a lantern that could take me to Intergalactic travels, But I have something much more valuable and that's my mind. I love helping people, I read books , I get good grades and I always stay cool like Batman.
3. What is your vision in life? My Vision in life is to explore the outer reaches of space and the vast cosmos of the Universe and Inspire Every Single person to reach for the stars, as well as show how beautiful and mysterious the outer space can be.
Section 2: Let’s talk AIESEC 1. Why are you applying to be LCVP? I believe by Becoming LCVP IGCDP , I can give a lot to the LC and in turn Develop my Leadership and Networking skills which have a great deal of values to my future. Moreover , I love challenging myself to adapt to new environments and I Believe this Position will Provide me with the chance to actually create those Challenges.
2. Seriously why? ( another answer) My LCVP experience will help me build up on my experience in management skill both in HR and resources. It will also help me realize my space agency vision in terms of crisis management, leadership experience, and project management. As I also envision my future Space agency to be self-sustainable.
3. Highlight ONE best AIESEC experience, ONE worst experience and ONE 50-50 AIESEC experience. One of my best Experience would be the time I was an Ep Buddy for an Intern we had (Lancer Yibo Xu), Even though it was just 3 month ago since I joined AIESEC, the time I had with him and the experiences I’ve gotten is worth a lot and I can confidently say those days were the best I’ve had . My worst experience goes without saying, It was when I had to say Goodbye to my First Ep buddy. And a 50 – 50 experience would be the nights I’ve had to pass without sleeping due to an unfinished work when I was working as an OC.
4. In one paragraph of not more than 3 sentences what frustrates you in AIESEC? AIESEC Provides people with the chance to do actual corporate world tasks, and gives you that full work experience. But when your team mates don’t understand this value, everything falls apart and the experience becomes dull. So, I think not having knowledge and passion for what you do frustrates me more.
5. In one sentence what in AIESEC excites you and overshadows the three lines or so above? AIESEC Is like family, and as every family it has it’s own down moments but it always manages to work through because we are Family and we are one. Thus, I believe that excites me more and overshadows everything.
6. What makes you stand out for this role based on past roles? ( do a golden circle pitch that is elevator pitch standard) I want to make Our LC stand out for it’s Best Intern Experience management and Quality Standards, and to do this I will work Very hard , make vast networks and Utilize cutting edge Strategies. I will do this because I believe it will benefit AIESEC as much as it does me.
Section 3: Can you stand us? 1.What sort of team would you like to be a part of? I am a man who is driven with Passion and a sense of Logic , and I Strongly believe that everyone should have the Passion and should love what they do, as well as Understand deeply on what it is that they’re doing and why.
2. Simply state the stages of a team formation? Which one would you be looking forward to and why? In team formation, we have Strom, Form and Norm. Personally, I Prefer Form. Because I believe it gives more Challenge. It’s the stage where you find a way actually to work with each other and find that dynamics in you.
3. What is the one thing that you cannot stand for / annoys you in a team environment? If I have to choose one thing, It would be Inflexibility.
4. What is the one thing you really look forward to in a team environment? WORKING AS ONE, any group of people can finish a task but when you work as one, that’s when a sense of family gets birth and where further future tasks are done more with passion.
5. What are the 3 key things you expected your team leader to incorporate and consider in order to make your LCP experience top of the list? I expect my LCP to challenge and Push me beyond my comfort zone so that I can get the full experience. I expect my LCP to be there and be part in all what we do. Moreover, I expect my LCP to be flexible and willing to take risks.
6. What is your hobby? And how would you like the team to take part or encourage you in it? My Hobby is Star Gazing. I would very much like it if the team could take an interest in it and maybe go to Star gazing events together or even Organize star gazing events themselves.
Section 4: Can we stand you? 1.Simple , SWOT of yourself and how this role (LCVP) plays into it. Strength : Committed , Hard working , Flexible
Opportunities :Out going Introvert , Willingness to learn
Weakness: take more than I can handle, Uncomfortable speaking in front of people
Threats : Shy, Outgoing Introvert
I’m not the best outgoing and the speaker type of person, but by committing to what I do and with hard work I believe I can win over my Unsociable behaviors, which I have been doing since I joined AIESEC. And I also believe getting this role will help me interact with many people with different cultures, which will in turn develop my Socializing and communication skills and leading to personal growth. And as said, by working hard and by being committed, I believe I can contribute more as the role does to me itself.
2.Grade your leadership qualities in a scale of 1-5 pictogram of sorts ie Global Citizen, self aware , solution oriented and Empowering others.
Solution oriented Self Aware Empowering others Global Citizen 0
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5
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Specific Questions 1.Present a SWOT analysis of AIESEC in AAU and your focus on IGDCP. What would you start, Continue and stop.
Strength
Weakness
- Strong communication system with Eps through Lead sessions.
- Inadequate knowledge of members about IGCDP. - Inexistence of Quality accommodation for Interns. - Implementation on right working hours on projects.
- Crisis Management - Strong and meaningful Projects - High responsiveness to Ep Demands.
Threats
Opportunities - Internet as a Marketing tool - Interns Increasing Knowledge about the Projects. - High demands for developing country Projects. - Expa
- Monthly Members Inspection. - Standardized accommodation. - Structural Change - Strengthen Partnerships with abroad LCs. - Expectation setting guides for Eps.
START
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A down turn in economy causing expensive accommodations and less spending budgets of Interns. Lack of Paying TN takers Member Demotivation during non off peak seasons. Financial Support to run Projects.
- Ep lead Sessions with Interns. - Close relations with different Lcs. - Posting Intern experience on our blog page. - Close Relations with the MC.
CONTINUE
- Housing related problems - Responsibility of reception team and EB’s to hang out with Interns. - Mediocre member Knowledge of IGCDP.
STOP
STRUCTURAL CHANGE
VP IGCDP Coordinator
One per two Projects And keeps track of Project managers and reports progress twice a month
Project Manager
Matching Manager TN Taker Manager Ep Manager Reception
- Manages the matching process for the project - frequently look for interested Eps on the Project.
- Manages the connection between TN takers, - Deliver Progress Report of Eps every two weeks.
- Manages Ep experience inside and outside of the Project. - Documentation of Ep experience.
- Arrival and Departure Management. - Intern House Manager.
2. What are the bottlenecks and opportunities that you have observed regarding IGCDP? What initiatives do you want to take up in the term 16.17 in order to capitalize on the opportunities available and alleviate the current bottleneck?
Bottlenecks The major bottle neck that we are facing regarding IGCDP is the Intern house problem . It is one of the major obstacle that has hindered the number of interns coming in and an issue that our interns make a complaint about. The Other Problem we faced this year is the motivation of members due to decreased numbers of interns , which led members into becoming inactive , also lack of effective synergy with the other portfolios.
Opportunities
I have seen that the IGCDP portfolio has an Amazing potential in developing good projects. And Since our projects are very much aligned with current pressing issues of the country, in cooperation with the sales team, we can sell our projects which would enable us to have a constant Intern house for a better Intern Experience
3. What is the goal you envision for IGCDP for the next year (divide by quarter, take into consideration the global wave summer peak, off peak)? QUARTER
PLAN -
Search for LC to LC Cooperation.
1st Quarter
-
MOU with TN Takers
- One more New Project Development and Management -
Market need assessment
Team Sessions on JD’s and clear Understanding. - Preparation time for interns (Promotion,)
2nd Quarter
-
Raising and Matching
-
Quarter
-
4th Quarter
Realization
Ep Session and leads.
Intern Experience and Experience Documentation.
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So, The first quarter would also be a time for matching interns but aside from that we would be preparing for new projects and TN Takers. we would utilize for the next peak season. Initial preparation would be done during other quarters but the implementation and action plan would be directed at this quarter.
During the second quarter, We will raise forms on Social media pages and start the promotion in collaboration with the Comm. Team. After we reach out to EPs’, and we match our interns, we would be integrating them into the LC and Ethiopia before they arrive.
Pre –matching Integration.
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3rd
DESCRIPTION
Progress Report Preps for transition
The third quarter is a peak season for realization of many interns so the EP lead program can be executed efficiently at this time. The IGCDP team in collaboration with the TM members, the Sessions would be delivered. And there would be a Documentation of their experience throughout their experience and follow ups on experience so we can post it on our blog post. This would allow us to Promote more on the good experiences we give and in turn bring more exchanges.
The fourth quarter will mainly focus on reading the progress we’ve made the whole year and mending what’ve had problems with so that the net term of Ebs could have an effective term and transition period.
4.State three min strategies to scale up the RA, MA, RE numbers and ensure higher conversion rates of IGCDP in each season. Include a plan description for each strategies and GCPs. Rebuilding Partnerships - According to our entity report, it shows that our LC has been having problems in receiving high number of Eps from Kenya as it used to before. For the next term if elected, I would Jump start and continue the cooperation with the new elects and maximize our experiences by increasing our delivery to other Kenyan LCs also allowing us to Once again be the best performing LC in the East African region. Hosting Ability – Housing has been one of the Problems when we plan impactful projects and bring in Eps, and there hasn’t been any Constant accommodation. For the Next term if elected, I would Continue the LC- LC cooperation, Find TN takers that can pay and overall make their stay better as well as do well in the Projects,Inturn Maximize our realization and number of experiences we would be delivering. “Add Evaluator (Quality Managers)Team to IGCDP” Hermela Feredegne LCVP iGCDP2014/15 This Idea was introduced to our LC by A former LCVP IGCDP,Hermela; and I intend to use it, adding Quality managers team at an LC level is one of my strategy for next term. A GCP from AIESEC University of Cairo shows that they use this team to accomplish different tasks like EP LEAD and also improve the quality of the portfolio.
5.What are your initiatives in order to make IGCDP financially sustainable portfolio. Include a GCP and a detailed description of one of your initiatives. Since Financial Sustainability has been one of the major issues for our LC. I believe Taking some of the measures below would alleviate it.
LC –LC cooperation Include host capability as a criteria on recruitment. Increase Interns accommodation fee to 150 $
Events Find TN takers that could provide with Intern houses.
The other Initiative I would take up and continue on is the CSR approach, Since the companies in Ethiopia nowadays are following the policy, which will make them Invest on projects that have a positive impact for our country, I will use this , research more on what the previous IGCDP VPs have worked on and develop my own methods to create and get more Partnerships with companies that could help us in becoming a more financially stable Portfolio.
6.What new market would you like would you utilize regarding TN takers for IGCDP. Include a detailed description of your plans.
Health
Problem that is being seen in Ethiopia nowadays is the problem of Personal health, Personal hygiene and sanitation. Water aid and other organizations have campaigns about hand washing ,Brushing teeth correctly and other sanitary teachings. But the amount of projects in this area is not enough because many of the goals have not been met yet. And so Kebele’s and Woreda’s would facilitate the venue and all the advertisement to gather there side of that area in order for our EP’s to give the training.
7. What approaches would you implement for better relation with interns and TN takers? (Include specific strategies)
Progress report to TN takers. - I believe presenting progress reports every two weeks so that TN takers can follow up on the progress of interns which in turn will enhance the relation s TN takers will have with the interns.
Intern Organizers -Interns organizing an event at their project place would create a more stronger bond on what they do and will show how much dedicated and progressive their participation in the project is, and in turn will end up getting the attention of TN takers and more relations will start to build up.
Intern Platform
-Intern Platform, is basically creating a stage for Interns to pass out comments when they finish their project.
RnR by TN takers
Organizing a Reward and Recognition sort of event by TN takers to support the work of EP’s.
8. How would you align AIESEC to the global SDGs in terms of the IGCDP portfolio?
In our LC, we have Various projects and as a developing country we focus on what our country needs the most right now, which also carries the basis of the SDGs. In my term, if I get elected, I would Utilize IGCDP projects to align them with SDGs , Projects such as Y.E.S , Edu power Unchained ,Underprivileged and a new health program.
Y.E.S The YES project gives the necessary trainings and motivation for University Students who wish to one day start their own business and become entrepreneurs. And I believe the creation of Entrepreneurs who thrive at risk-taking and from learning rapidly about what doesn’t work, and who are sustainable ,scale oriented models and management teams that are best equipped to handle significant capital and to shift how these goals could actually be achieved – shifting from unsustainable and un-achieved to sustainable and achieved development goals.
Edu power Unchained and Underprivileged As it is said before, the most important determinant of economic growth is the “knowledge capital” of nations, While access to school is important ,Improving the quality of schools provides a much larger economic impact especially for developing countries like ours, and even though the Projects have more purpose in the them, I would like to point out quality education as an SDG alignment.