Interning at WeFi has allowed me to gain valuable knowledge, real-world experience, and grow in ways I never expected
– Rufta Atsgeba
After receiving the Nicholas Feinstein Scholarship, I was thrilled, but the idea of coming to South Africa by myself was also incredibly intimidating. I had never been away from my family, not even during college, so making this leap felt almost unthinkable.
But after some reassurance from President Feinstein and John Schmidt, I decided to go for it. I still remember John telling me, “You will not regret it.” Not only do I not regret it, but I believe it’s the best decision I’ve ever made for myself.
During my internship, I had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with real tools and projects that have a meaningful impact, alongside another intern, Ethan. Our mentor, Erick, did an incredible job structuring the internship into focused sprints that allowed us to make the most of our time at WeFi.
The three sprints included building internal AI agents, working with Mabl for automation testing, and designing an intern onboarding app, which turned out to be my personal favorite. In the first sprint, we were introduced to Microsoft Copilot Studio, where we built two internal AI agents named ‘Genie’ and ‘JUDY.’ Genie was designed to assist internal staff by answering technical questions, and JUDY was built to support the legal team by extracting relevant clauses from uploaded policy documents. These projects gave me a deep appreciation for the power of no-code platforms and helped me see how AI could be used to solve real business problems, not just in theory, but in daily operation that saves time and improves accuracy.
The second sprint of our internship focused on automated testing using Mabl, a platform I had never used before but quickly grew confident with. I learned how to design and execute automated test cases that mirrored real-world user flows, helping ensure that key features in WeFi’s applications worked as intended. I found Mabl interesting because with just one well-designed test case, the amount of time it saves and the efficiency it brings to the business is truly impressive. By the end of this sprint, I earned my official Mabl certification, which I’m now proud to include on my resume. That’s another thing I really appreciated about my internship at WeFi, they didn’t just want us to succeed on our projects; they made sure we walked away with valuable skills and certifications we could use in our future careers.
Our final sprint, which was also my favorite project, involved building a web-based onboarding app for future WeFi interns. Although Erick gave us a few requirements for what the app needed to include, he gave us full creative control and encouraged us to design it freely. The app includes features like department-based training tracks, time tracking, and an advice board where interns can share their experiences and tips. We based the design on our own internship experience, thinking about what would have made our first days easier and more organised. Knowing that something I helped create will continue to support future interns made the project exciting.
What I appreciated most about the internship was how real-world-based it was. We were required to give presentations at the end of each sprint, something I had always dreaded, but it’s a skill that’s essential in the professional world. As the sprints went on, I became more comfortable presenting my work and speaking in front of everyone, which I’m truly thankful for. Erick encouraged us not only to come to him with questions but also to reach out to other team members. This helped us build the habit of collaborating with different people and asking for help when needed, just like we would in a real work setting. We were also trusted to manage our own time, take breaks as needed, and work at our own pace. I know that many internship programs can be extremely strict about things like schedules and structure, so I really appreciated the freedom we were given at WeFi.
Outside of work, I absolutely loved my time in Stellenbosch. I enjoyed the small-town feel and the ability to walk everywhere I needed to go. I spent my free time going to the gym nearby, sitting on my balcony reading, trying out new restaurants, and visiting the waterfront whenever possible. The highlight of my trip, though, was going on a safari. Erick encouraged us to take the trip, and I’m so glad I did. I explored caves, went bungee jumping from 216 meters, skydived, kayaked, met rescued elephants, spent over three hours admiring some of the most beautiful animals I’ve ever seen, and met some students that were also interning in South Africa. On weekends, the team ensured we had plans and if we didn’t, they made plans with us and took us to new places. It truly felt like they went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable.
Not only did this internship provide me with new knowledge and experiences, but it also gave me the opportunity to grow as a person. I’ve always been surrounded by family and friends whom I love dearly, but I often found myself wondering who I would be alone, without expectations and opinions. Being in South Africa gave me the opportunity to find out. I used this time to develop new habits I had always wanted to build, reflect on my future without outside opinions, and really think about the kind of life I want to create for myself. I’m so grateful for this time of personal growth, and I truly believe I’m leaving this experience more confident, independent, and grounded than when I arrived.
To conclude, I want to thank everyone who made this experience possible for me. First, I want to thank John Schmidt, who made this entire program possible in honor of President Feinstein’s late son, Nicholas Feinstein. I’m also incredibly grateful to Rob Knight and Erick Underhill for organising our stay and supporting us from the moment we arrived. Alongside them, I want to express my gratitude to everyone in the South Africa office for welcoming us and taking such good care of us. They truly went above and beyond, going as far as including us in family outings, which meant so much. We were treated not just as interns but as family visiting from afar, and that kindness will stay with me forever. Thank you, truly.
