"At one point he took a cow dung and came towards me as if he wanted to smear it in my face": Ugandan Linda had the nightmare of her life as an intern on a Danish farm
Linda, a 22-year-old from Uganda, faced horrific living conditions during her agricultural internship in Denmark, including a filthy accommodation and fear of repercussions for speaking out.
Linda, a 22-year-old Ugandan intern, arrived in December at a farm in East Jutland, Denmark, only to be met with shocking living conditions that included filth, mold, and even rats. She describes her accommodation as being in a terrible state, lacking warmth and basic hygiene, which led to a distressing experience throughout her time there.
In her anonymous account, Linda reveals her fears about speaking out against the treatment she endured, choosing to participate under a fictitious name to protect her identity. Her story highlights serious issues regarding the treatment of foreign interns in Denmark, raising questions about oversight and accountability in programs designed to support agricultural education and work experience.
Linda's chilling experience sheds light on the darker side of internship programs, particularly for vulnerable workers from less affluent countries. It calls for a reassessment of protocols to ensure safety and dignity for interns, especially in foreign settings, and emphasizes the need for improved living conditions and ethical standards within the agricultural industry.