What organization did you intern with? What was your role?
I interned with UNICEF this summer as a market-strengthening intern, as part of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) team.
Where was your internship located?
Kenya.
What is your career goal?
I hope to combine my public health training with business knowledge to make large-scale social impact.
What was your internship funding source?
Yale Institute for Global Health (YIGH).
What were your duties/responsibilities during your internship?
As a market-strengthening intern, I developed market-assessment tools for UNICEF country staff to quickly and easily evaluate the local sanitation market conditions, prioritize intervention areas, strengthen market-based sanitation programs, and increase access to sanitation products for low-income communities. My work supports a public-private partnership at UNICEF that aims to increase access to sanitation and hygiene services in low-income communities.
What did you take away from your experience as an intern? What was the value of the internship to you?
I learned how international and developmental agencies such as UNICEF can partner with private organizations to scale up impact for local communities. It was also eye-opening for me to see firsthand the importance of having close partnerships among diverse stakeholders, such as local government officials, suppliers, community health volunteers, and UN staff, in delivering results. Through the internship, I learned more about how I could leverage my public health and business trainings to contribute to society.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your internship? What was the most challenging aspect? The most surprising aspect?
This was my first time visiting a country in Africa! It was surprising and heartwarming to learn that despite the cultural and geographical differences, all of us share very similar values and I could easily form strong connections with my colleagues and the local community. It made the world feel a little bit smaller to me and made me realize that we are more similar than we think.
As I was supporting a public-private partnership with many stakeholders involved, I had to learn quickly how to get the support of different teams with different priorities. I am thankful that I was able to tap into the close partnerships that the UNICEF team at Kenya has built over the years. Without this strong network, I would not be able to make the market assessment tools useful and relevant to the staff.
How has YSPH prepared you for this internship?
YSPH has equipped me with a diverse skill set to interact and collaborate with people from different backgrounds. Core modules such as Biostatistics in Public Health, Health Policy and Health Care Systems, and Social Justice and Health Equity allowed me to build a strong public health foundation. I was also able to customize my electives to learn more about public health entrepreneurship, education policy, and developmental programs in low-income communities.
What would you say to a student who’s considering a similar internship?
Having an internship with a UN organization is an invaluable opportunity. I highly recommend it. Not only does it allow us to see how public health programs work in real life, but it also enables us to see how UN organizations work with diverse stakeholders to bring impact to local communities.