Virtual Internship 2023
Special Award
Trip to Switzerland
June 20 – July 4, 2024
Cynthia Chipango, Mpimpa Hamasaka, Tawanda Mpepoimba, Plaxides Namutami, Thandiwe Pandala, Zubeda Yusuf
2-week trip to Switzerland as a reward
In 2023, six students from the University of Lusaka, Zambia, were part of our virtual internship program. As all of them showed an excellent performance, they won the Special Award, a trip to Switzerland. During their 2-week stay, they travelled around the country, visited different cities and places and were able to gain many impressions of Switzerland. The Special Award - as well as the virtual internships - were generously funded by the Staub Kaiser Foundation.
Thursday, June 20 After their flight via Dubai, the six Zambians were welcomed by Sabina Balmer (B360 Team) and their host families at Zurich airport. During their stay, the former interns could generously stay at the houses of two families in Wetzikon.
Friday, June 21 The next day the interns met Karen Müller (B360) and Barbara Graf Horka (volunteer and photographer for B360) at Zurich main station. After an orientation on how to navigate the Swiss transportation system (for some of the young Zambians it was the first time on a train) and lunch, it was “Foxtrail-day”. Even though it rained almost all day, the interns were eager to solve the Foxtrail “Odysseus – Zürich Stadt”. Unfortunately, the heavy rain caused them to stop searching for clues a bit early.
Saturday, June 22 After a calm morning, the interns travelled to Zug where a festival took place (Seenachtsfest Zug). Together with Taylor Rohner (B360), they visited the lake, the old town and had a wide choice of food at the Freiruum in Zug.
Sunday, June 23 Sunday was without big plans and they spent the day around Wetzikon and with their host families.
Monday, June 24 The week started with a visit of the B360 office in Zug. After a lively exchange, the interns did the last preparations for their performance at the upcoming B360-Annual Event together with Peter Schmuki (Vice President B360). After a lunch at the office and some pictures together with the B360 team, they did another stroll through Zug before travelling back to Wetzikon.
Tuesday, June 25 Chocolate day! Together with Rita Becker (Board Member and B360 Expert) and Diane de Saint Victor (B360 Expert), the group visited the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg. A lot of chocolate was eaten and during the cruise on the lake from Wädenswil to Zurich, they could digest and enjoy the beautiful view from lake of Zurich.
Wednesday, June 26 This day was a special and very important day for B360. In the evening, the Annual Event took place at Schloss Sihlberg. After a brief rehearsal in the afternoon, the interns had the chance to meet some of their internship mentors as well as members, friends and donors of B360. As part of the B360 presentation with different speakers and exciting videos, the six told the audience during their stage talk about their internships, their experiences, challenges and achievements.
Thursday, June 27 The start of a 4-day-trip. After meeting with Markus Hübscher (Board Member and B360 Expert) and his wife Ruth Locher, the train took the group to Bern. After exploring the Swiss capital, they moved on by train to Geneva.
Friday, June 28 In Geneva, the interns had the chance to meet Jonathan from Scenario X. Two of the Zambians did their internship for this start-up and met their mentor for the first time “in real life”.
Saturday, June 29 After two nights in Geneva, it was time to move on and travel to Sion, where the group met Rudolf Schmitt (B360 Board Member and B360 Expert). Together they did excursions, visited Crans-Montana, touched snow for the first time and got a great impression of the Swiss mountains.
Sunday, June 30 Sunday was the day to travel back to Zurich, which was not exactly as planned due to the poor weather conditions and the flood damage caused by the bad and stormy weather in the Wallis.
Monday, July 1 Time to relax and enjoy some free time as well as enjoy a fun dinner with the family Rohner in Rotkreuz.
Tuesday, July 2 The whole group was invited to visit Bob Finance in Zurich, where one of the Zambians had done her virtual internship.
Wednesday, July 3 Some free time, some shopping and a visit to Stephan Müller’s dental practice (B360 host family) for a dental check and dental advice.
Thursday, July 4 After two exciting weeks full of highlights, it was already time to pack the bags and get ready to fly home to Lusaka. The six were seen off by their host families and Karen Mueller (B360 Team) – their backpacks filled with great memories and souvenirs, new experiences and inspiration.
Cynthia Chipango “My two weeks stay in Switzerland was a once in a lifetime journey and something I will cherish for the rest of my life. It is quite hard to pick a favorite activity because I enjoyed every bit of the activities to the fullest. First things first, it was my first time on a plane, I loved and love flying. It was my first time on a train, laughed at how we missed the train one time due to how efficient they are with time keeping. It was my first time on a cable car, getting on top of a mountain, and touching snow.”
Mpimpa Hamasaka "My personal highlight was experiencing the cultural diversity firsthand. Every day brought something new, from breathtaking landscapes to meaningful interactions with locals and host families. It was a journey of growth and discovery that I'll cherish forever."
Tawanda Mpepoimba “The excitement of traveling to Europe for the first time and getting to meet the people we had become so used to via the phone was great. The host families definitely made the stay fun and I always looked forward to the meals at the table with everyone (…). I think what stood out to me was how efficient the whole system works over there, just like a well-oiled machine and the transport network being one of them, the people were also generally kind and it was good getting the invite to meet Taylor’s family.”
Plaxides Namutami "The special award exceeded my expectations. Meeting inspiring people like Taylor Rohner and experiencing exceptional hospitality from Stephen and Christine Muller made my trip unforgettable. From my first flight to Swiss beers and chocolate, Switzerland felt like home. Time management is another key lesson I’ve brought back to Zambia, helping me better manage my own time."
Thandive Pandala “Winning the award from b360 and traveling to Switzerland was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It broadened my horizons, deepened my appreciation for different cultures, and inspired me to continue pursuing excellence in my career. Switzerland’s beauty and innovation left a lasting impression on me, and I will always cherish the memories from this extraordinary trip.”
Zubeda Yusuf “Reflecting on this experience, I can confidently say it has been one of the most remarkable of my life. From Zurich to Lausanne, the breathtaking train journeys offered magnificent views of Switzerland's natural beauty—endless greenery and pristine waterways. Each moment was a sensory delight, enriched by shared stories, diverse tastes, and the camaraderie of my team. In conclusion, Switzerland surpassed all expectations, imprinting unforgettable memories that I will treasure forever. The blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and heartfelt hospitality made this journey an unparalleled experience of growth, learning, and profound connections.”
B360 and the virtual interns 2023 would like to thank everyone who supported our interns before and during their stay. A big thank you to Rabecca Hatoongo, Head of Department Economics UNILUS, for all her support with the very challenging visa process. A special THANK YOU to the Staub Kaiser Foundation who made this trip possible, to the host families Müller-Wepfer and Meier who opened their houses for the interns, the committed Board Members, Experts and team members who accompanied our guests and all the stakeholders for their contribution towards the success of this trip.
