What did you do with GHEI? While in Humjibre, I had the chance to give a few lectures at local schools on HIV/AIDS, do some English tutoring at the community center, sit and talk with a lot of people, spend tons of time with kids, get schooled by them at soccer and teach them frisbee, take part in one of the bimonthly women's reproductive health meetings conducted by a GHEI intern, visit the bauxite mines, and shadow a doctor in the hospital in Bekwai (and watch a cesarean section!) 

Current Schooling: final year at McGill University: International Development and African Studies

Future Career Goals: I'm still working to narrow the scope of my career path, but I am very passionate about Sub-Saharan Africa and work in global health. Whether I accomplish this through obtaining an MD, DO, MPH or a combination of the three, I am not sure. We will see where the next few years take me!

How has your work with GHEI influenced you? I can say without reservation that my involvement in GHEI played the most pivotal role in shaping both my career goals and the person I have become today. GHEI transformed me from a high school student without direction, unsure and confused about my desire to go into medicine, to a motivated, driven student, passionate about helping to affect change and knowing that Sub-Saharan Africa is where I want to be. I like to think I would have found my way eventually, but GHEI served as the catalyst that made it happen – and not a moment too soon.

What is your most memorable moment in Humjibre? Choosing a “most memorable moment” is far from easy, but one evening stands out in my memory. We had gathered at the community center for the biweekly tutoring sessions provided by the GHEI interns. The power was out and while we waited for it to come back on, I sat and conversed with a young student. It was absolutely POURING and even though we were inches away from each other, we had to shout to be heard above the raindrops pelting the tin roof. We spent as much time asking the other to repeat themselves and laughing as we did talking. As it became clear the power was not going to return, we left the community center and the students headed home, dispersing in all directions. I made my way down the muddy hill and with the help of my many personal escorts, found home. It was a simple, but beautiful evening; one I will certainly never forget. (Jenny, continued)