During my internship with Gulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalization (GWED-G) in northern Uganda, I interviewed young girls, mothers, and women impacted by GWED-G’s efforts to provide maternal healthcare resources, empower women, strengthen communities, and build economic independence. By documenting how GWED-G changed their lives and what further assistance they needed, my fellow interns and I contributed to weekly reports for Executive Director Pamela Angwech and project leads. These reports were used to assess initiatives for community development, giving me a deeper appreciation for the importance of our contributions to raising women’s voices, peacebuilding, and strengthening northern Ugandan communities.

Alongside fellow interns, I worked with internship coordinator Franny and numerous GWED-G project leads to travel to villages and implement field-based initiatives such as health literacy discussions and community sensitizations focused on villages with increasing HIV/AIDS rates. Our team collaborated closely with village liaisons and Village Health Technicians (VHTs) who monitor community health needs and outbreaks. We conducted beneficiary interviews; documented community perspectives on gender-based violence prevention policymaking; and recorded personal stories of women who have experienced violence and are supported by GWED-G, with translation assistance from Franny and project lead Susan.

We also assisted in GWED-G outreach clinics in rural villages where children received immunizations and mothers accessed antenatal care checkups. These experiences allowed us to work closely with medical volunteers and community members, deepening my understanding of GWED-G’s mission of long-term, sustainable community development.

As a neuroscience and behavior major on a pre-medicine track with a keen interest in global health and humanitarian medicine, I found my coursework in psychology and biology critical throughout the internship. These courses prepared me to navigate sensitive social interactions and emotionally intense conversations. I practiced empathetic listening and trauma-informed care when speaking with mothers living with HIV/AIDS who openly shared their stories and gratitude for GWED-G. These interviews reinforced why I study neuroscience and behavior and am committed to global health and humanitarian medicine. Through discussions with public health project leads, village health technicians, and hospital staff, I deepened my understanding of the biological significance of HIV/AIDS and malaria in these communities. I witnessed how inconsistent access to antiretroviral medications prolonged recovery and compromised long-term health. I sought to explore intersections of psychological health, public health, maternal care, child development, and healthcare reconstruction in an international setting alongside my pre-medicine studies.

I faced challenges, particularly disconnects during interviews with women and family beneficiaries. Some words and phrases could not be directly translated into English, carrying rich cultural meaning and feeling. GWED-G translators worked carefully to explain villagers’ words, though some nuance and emotional substance was subtly lost. To bridge this gap, I asked Franny to teach me common Luo phrases. Greeting people with 'Apwoyo' (hello) often lit up their faces, strengthened our conversations, and built cross-cultural connections that eased tension. Another challenge involved recognizing the limits of our work; long days and many needs, coupled with reduced funding and limited aid for GWED-G, underscored the importance of fundraising efforts back at Columbia.

This internship was transformative. I contributed to destigmatizing HIV/AIDS, addressing community myths about reproductive and sexual health, educating children and teens, and integrating with the northern Ugandan community to understand their way of life and use that context to create lasting sustainable impacts on health and economic development. Every moment strengthened my interest in international healthcare system reconstruction and global health research. Discussions with Pamela about my goals and her guidance shaped by extensive accomplishments were invaluable. Working with GWED-G project leads, I engaged with lawyers, council members, village leaders, physicians, midwives, public health specialists, and interns to design thoughtful action plans for specific villages and groups. I witnessed the role of an NGO by visiting the communities GWED-G serves. Moving forward, I feel more grounded in my passion for global health, humanitarian medicine, children’s health, healthcare rebuilding, and addressing inequities both abroad and in the United States.