Work Experience
The following are extracts from TY students accounts
of work experience held in Oct. '05
Name- Robert Carty
Work Experience In Zambia Day One
"I arrived at Kavu Health Clinic at 9am it is on the outskirts of Ndola city.
It is one of the cleanest clinics in Zambia. I was shown around the clinic,
there is only one doctor and a few nurses but they are helped out by nurses.
When I was finished looking around I when into the lab to help out Peter who
works in there. A lot of people come to the clinic mainly for Malaria and
HIV/AIDS. While I was there two tests for Malaria were done and two tests
for HIV. I helped out doing both of the tests. I looked at a blood sample
under a microscope and saw the Malaria cells and for the HIV test I placed a
blood sample on a strip that determines if a person has the disease. When
these tests were finished I watched while Peter did a test on a woman and
found out that there was blood in her urine and that she had a problem with
his liver.
Work Experience In Zambia Day Two
On the second day I went into the clinic again but this time I watched my
sister treating patients and prescribing medicines for them. Most of the
patients were children under 5 years of age and they were mostly cases of
Malaria. These people could not afford to go into Ndola because it is too
expensive so the clinic is essential for a lot of people's survival.
Work Experience In Zambia Day Three
On the third day I when into the city of Ndola and I went into the
nutritional clinic. There were dozens of mothers with their children waiting
to be given medication to help the malnourishment. I helped by writing up
what dosage is to be taken and when it is to be taken. All of the children
who came were under 5 years. Some of the children weighed less than a new
born baby and their stomachs were swollen because of them not getting enough
food.
Work Experience Day In ZambiaFour & Five
On the fourth and fifth day I stayed with two Christian Brothers in
Mufilira. While I was there I visited the factory that the brothers set up
where they have created jobs and have made things for the people pf the
area. They grow acres of maize and they are feeding nearly 90 families and
they give some acres to students who grow their own maize for their
families. They have imported a machine worth $8,000 to make blocks. It takes
14 men to man the machine but it makes thousands of blocks a day. They are
building 50 houses for the people in the area of Murundu.
It was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget."
"I
decided to work with my father in the ESB. I worked all summer getting my safe pass course
completed, my three-day course in first aid and three other courses for the ESB.I had to
do these to work with him. I did these course in Athlone.I really enjoy working for the
ESB even though I started work at 7.00am!
The work I was at was going around cutting
under the ESB lines so they wouldn’t trip out .I was working in Athlone, Ballinasloe,
I used tools such as chainsaws polesaws, ladders"
"For my work
experience I went to Rockwood Furniture doing carpentry. This involves making kitchen
units and also to fit them. I was very busy over the week helping the lads that were
working there to fit the units together. To make no big holes in the unit you would use a
nail gun to connect them together. For the back of a
wardrobe and cupboard to fit to the rest of the unit they have to be grooved"
"For my work experience, I
worked in Clossick’s Hardware shop in Portumna. My week’s work experience began
on Monday 24th and ran on until Friday 28th. I chose this placement
as I felt it would give me an insight into the working life. I also felt it would help
expand my knowledge of hardware in general. I
did a lot of different jobs while working there. These jobs included pricing many
different products. I also served customers at the counter. Products which I sold include
paint, nails, screws, locks, bins, brushes, and nuts and bolts among a number of different
things."
"The first day
was interesting as I got used to the whole place. I didn’t do much other than study
what everyone else did. Day two began at a 9 o’ clock start. I first put stuff
outside the front door for display. I then priced more products and put them on a shelf
for display. I also served customers. I finished work at 6 o’ clock.
Day three was much the
same as day two. It included pricing and selling products".
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