During my internship with Gulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalization (GWED-G), I contributed to various projects that advanced the organization's mission to empower women in war-affected communities in Northern Uganda to become self-reliant and make effective decisions concerning their rights, health, and development.

One of my key contributions was distributing safe birthing kits — MAAMA kits — to HIV-positive mothers across more than 10 villages. This initiative directly supports GWED-G’s mission by addressing critical maternal health needs and reducing the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child. The birthing kits provides essential supplies for safe childbirth, which is vital for improving maternal and infant health outcomes in these vulnerable communities. Additionally, I conducted over 20 interviews with the beneficiaries of GWED-G’s work and documented its positive impact on women and families in Gulu through stories of change. This project involved capturing personal narratives and success stories, in order to highlight the organization's achievements and garner further community engagement and support. I also met with local human rights defenders to build their capacity and respond to implementation issues. By strengthening the skills and knowledge of these defenders, we aimed to enhance their ability to advocate for community rights and ensure effective health and development interventions. Moreover, I was involved in advancing WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) initiatives by line-listing data at local health care facilities to find target communities and combating the spread of HIV/AIDS by contributing to awareness campaigns, education and training programs, and supporting community health workers. Through these diverse projects, I contributed to GWED-G's overarching goal of empowering communities and improving health outcomes, particularly for women and children, in Northern Uganda.

My major in political science and particularly human rights, provided me with a robust set of skills that I was able to apply during my internship with GWED-G. My major emphasized the importance of cross-cultural understanding, which was vital in adapting to the diverse cultural context of Northern Uganda. This competence enabled me to interact respectfully and effectively with community members, ensuring that our projects were inclusive and respectful of local traditions and values. Further coursework in oral history made it easier to build rapport with those I interviewed and made the interviews themselves fruitful.

The primary challenge I faced was feeling overwhelmed by the sheer scale of need within the communities we served. It was easy to feel disillusioned when confronted with the extensive health and social issues that these communities face daily. Despite our efforts, it often felt like we could never help enough or make a significant enough impact. Another persistent challenge was the lack of sufficient resources. For example village health technicians — elected community leaders who conduct health tests and assist in bringing birthing mothers to health centers — often face difficulties due to a lack of basic necessities, such as transportation. Despite their crucial role in improving community health, these VHTs were unpaid and struggled without adequate support. Many explained that they needed bicycles to effectively reach patients, but there was no pool of money available to assist them.

This experience deepened my understanding of community-led development and allowed me to engage meaningfully with the people I aimed to serve. Working with GWED-G showed me the importance of grassroots efforts in addressing complex challenges, particularly in post-conflict settings. By contributing to the distribution of safe birthing kits, advancing WASH initiatives, and supporting HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, I saw firsthand how local solutions can lead to significant improvements in health and well-being.

Additionally, I gained valuable insights into the limitations of development work, especially when resources are scarce. The challenges faced by village health technicians, who often lacked the basic tools they needed, underscored the need for sustainable solutions and further advocacy to ensure their essential work is supported.

This experience was invaluable in shaping my understanding of human rights and development in practice. It solidified my commitment to pursuing a career that combines health equity and human rights advocacy, with a focus on empowering vulnerable communities. The lessons I’ve learned will stay with me, and I am confident they will continue to guide my future work.