Meet the OBSID interns

Hi, I’m Emmelina Bales and I am interning at OBSID. I am from Austin Texas and I major in business and music.

I chose to work in Cape Town to gain knowledge of different perspectives around the world.

My experience so far has been a beautiful blend of cultures in this artsy community that comes together to make the Observatory a better place for all.

I have the wonderful opportunity of working with three other talented interns: Abby Muthoni, Julian Heidenreich, and Niels Doodeman. Abby Muthoni and I are co-editors of the Obslife July’s edition.

We also have been working on media briefs for TRUPA and renovating the OBSID website. Abby, also from the US, lives in Virginia.

It is not her first visit to Africa but it is her first time in South Africa. Abby studies Journalism and Gender studies.

Julian Heidenreich is a business law exchange student from Germany who has studied one semester at the Stellenbosch University.

Julian and I focus on the issue of TRUP where the legalities lie concerning the proposed over development.

We also work with DAG to address the housing issues within Observatory.

Niels is from Heemskerk in the Netherlands a town outside of Amsterdam. He studies economics at VU University in Amsterdam and enjoys playing soccer and cycling.

Niels focuses on development programs and the cost of the economy making a cost benefit analysis of employment.

Together we have seen a city filled with beauty and hardships but yet retains the strongest sense of community that we have ever seen and we will never forget Observatory with all its bohemian charm.

I am honoured to work with so many passionate people that are dedicated to improving the Observatory day by day.