By allowing interns to take ownership of entire projects, we not only foster their personal development and expertise but also ensure they contribute to initiatives that have a positive social impact.
What are internship projects at Kunlabora?
At Kunlabora, we are passionate about projects that create social impact. For our internship assignments, we exclusively select initiatives from the social sector. This year, we partnered with Blijhuis, providing three students the opportunity to manage a project from start to finish.
When we say "from A to Z," we mean it literally. Our goal with internship projects is to immerse students in real cases, allowing them to experience every step of a genuine project. This includes everything from analysis and ongoing communication with clients to DevOps and maintaining a live application.
We believe in the power of self-managing teams, just as we do in our daily operations. While two regular team members, Gilliam and Brent, supervised the interns, the students were given ample space and freedom to take the initiative and drive their projects forward.
What was the internship project for Blijhuis about?
Blijhuis is an organization based in Mechelen that supports families in socially vulnerable situations. Through group activities, they enhance the developmental opportunities for children and build the skills and capacities of their caregivers.
Blijhuis needed a new administrative system to replace their outdated and unstable setup. Maintaining accurate records is essential for their operations, especially when it comes to data required for subsidy applications. However, as a small social organization, they did not have the budget to undertake such a large-scale software project immediately.
A win-win situation for both customer and Kunlabora
When Kunlabora connected with Blijhuis, both parties recognized a valuable opportunity. Our team met with Blijhuis to understand their needs, and the perfect internship project emerged, paving the way for a win-win situation for all three parties involved.
First, for our interns, this project provides a chance to learn all aspects of software development in a safe yet “real” environment. For Blijhuis, the second win comes in the form of a new custom application tailored to their administrative needs, delivered at a limited budget. Finally, Kunlabora benefits as well: internship projects serve as excellent opportunities to experiment with new techniques and enhance our team’s coaching skills.
How did the internship project go?
Our first two interns, Rojin and Stan, kicked off the project in February, with Jonathan joining the team a month later due to his focus on a different field of study. After familiarizing themselves with each other and the operations at Kunlabora, they dove right into the work.
The project commenced with a technical analysis and the creation of initial wireframes. From there, they quickly moved forward to present the first Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to the client as soon as possible. Recognizing the importance of feedback during an internship project, we encouraged Blijhuis to actively participate, facilitating multiple rounds of feedback to refine the product.
Challenging internship assignments
At Kunlabora, we prioritize expertise, which is why we presented our interns with challenging assignments. One of the major hurdles they faced was the DevOps aspect of their projects. The students gained valuable experience in using AWS and Infrastructure as Code—two advanced development concepts that are typically not covered in school curricula.
AWS, or Amazon Web Services, is a widely-used cloud platform for hosting web applications and databases. Infrastructure as Code refers to a methodology in which infrastructure—such asservers and networks—is managed and configured through code, enabling greater efficiency and consistency.
Code writing and rewriting
A crucial aspect of their assignment involved writing code. Throughout this process, the interns faced several setbacks, which is entirely normal, as coding can be quite challenging. However, after dedicated effort, they successfully completed their tasks, developing a well-maintainable codebase and putting significant emphasis on automated testing. In short, they established a solid foundation for the digital solution.
In addition to coding skills, they cultivated other valuable qualities. They were given ample freedom within the project, allowing them to explore and learn independently. As a result, they quickly became proficient in delivering demos and conducting retrospectives—essential skills in an agile environment!
The Kokono application: a launchpad for a successful career
The outcome of the internship assignment was a high-quality digital application: the Kokono app, which is now actively utilized by Blijhuis. However, the project yielded more than just a solid app. Throughout their internship, the three students demonstrated their capabilities as developers, leading to job offers at Kunlabora as a rewarding bonus. While Stan chose to continue his studies, Rojin and Jonathan are now proud employees of Kunlabora.
Are you looking for an enriching learning environment for your internship? Kunlabora is gearing up for new internship opportunities next year, so be sure to keep an eye on our website!
If you appreciate our approach, don’t hesitate to reach out for a custom software project!
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