Major(s): Undeclared
What was the name of the organization you worked for over the summer?
AYAT Education
What was your role and what did you work on?
I was working on several development initiatives of AYAT Education such as their ‘Compassionate Narayanganj’ project which is a piloting initiative that aims to train volunteers and health workers to provide comprehensive and age-attuned palliative care in rural communities in Bangladesh. I was the Research and Community Development Intern, so my internship was largely focused on conducting primary and secondary research, understanding the needs and availability of healthcare services in Bangladesh, and ultimately writing an article bringing it all together. I was also required to attend and write weekly reports on other community development initiatives beyond palliative care (which was my primary focus) such as nursing and nursing education, health and wellness of garment workers and the care economy in Bangladesh. Furthermore, I assisted in drafting a proposal on behalf of AYAT Care for the empowerment of women to develop the care economy in Bangladesh.
What was a highlight of your experience?
A highlight of my experience was meeting the Mayor of Naranganj City Corporation who has been supporting the ‘Compassionate Narayanganj’ Project since its inception and was the one to give it its name. She stressed the importance of providing care to the elderly and vulnerable population of Bangladesh and it was really inspiring to hear her own story from how she went from a physician to a public representative, aiming to revolutionize the provision of palliative care services in Bangladesh through this project.
How did your summer experience impact you?
Overall, this summer experience provided me with immense knowledge and anecdotes regarding the public health system in Bangladesh. It allowed me to meet numerous stakeholders and actors within the system and gave me a taste of what it’s like working in the development sector. Having spent six weeks in Bangladesh, I have not only learned a lot about the healthcare system, but also learned how to be independent and confident in a male-dominated workspace. My biggest takeaway from the work that I did is that at the heart of development work lies interdisciplinary collaboration. With the dissemination of practical-based knowledge, creation of culturally appropriate and replicable service models, and promotion of sustainable practices, we can empower the local community to drive long-term impact.
