My name is Maddie Wissoker and I am going into my fourth year at 捆绑SM社区, majoring in Ecological Determinants of Health in Society in the School of Environment and minoring in International Development with a concentration in Economic Development and Living Standards. My interests include global health, particularly in relation to climate change, as well as economic development on the micro scale. Growing up, my mom traveled all over the work, often times bringing me with her, multiple times to East Africa, sparking my interest in the region and making working with Elimu this summer in Kenya a perfect match.
I first heard about Elimu when I took a class with Professor Chemin, the founder of Elimu, who talked about his research in class, which I found very interesting. Elimu Impact Evaluation Unit is located in Kianyaga, Kenya and was founded in 2006. The organization runs randomized controlled trials to pinpoint the most effective ways to alleviate poverty, and in the past has run experiments in relation to health insurance, legal aid, and micro-hydro-electrification. Now, the organization focuses mainly on the micro-hydro-electrification project, a Skype tutoring project and a new project with the judiciary. I was looking for a hands on opportunity, and living in rural Kenya running one of Chemin鈥檚 randomized controlled trials seemed like the perfect fit. Our objectives were to: facilitate the Skype tutoring program between 捆绑SM社区 students and children at a local primary school, write grants for various Elimu partners, and assist in the day to day operations of the office.
As an intern, my responsibilities were to facilitate the Skype tutoring project with my fellow intern, which meant going to the primary school every day, setting up the sessions, getting the kids ready for Skype, and being on hand to fix any technical difficulties during the sessions. Additionally, this required coordinating with all of the 捆绑SM社区 students tutoring throughout the summer. Furthermore, we conducted an oral baseline and end-line English proficiency survey with all 80 of the fifth and sixth graders enrolled at Raimu Primary School. Additionally, myself and the other intern helped write grants for various Elimu affiliates, including a grant for an Elimu employee who wanted to start the first pig farm in the area as well as a grant for the primary school, which had just begun a special needs boarding program and needed assistance, as the government鈥檚 was not enough to build or maintain a proper dormitory.
There were many highlights of my internship, but the most notable for me was being able to form a relationship with the kids at Raimu Primary School during the 12 weeks that we were there. When we came back to the school after their midterm break, the kids were so excited to see us, wanted to set up the computers, and asked who they should call for Skyping. It was so nice to spend time with them before the Skype sessions started and we got to know a lot of them really well. It was fun to hear their favorite music and share ours and hear more about their lives. Another highlight of the internship was seeing how grateful Joackim, the employee who wanted to start pig farming, was when we told him we had completed the grant.
I am not receiving credit for my internship, but I am planning on doing an independent research project based off of the internship with Professor Chemin, focusing on market access. While I was there, I learned a lot about how while many of the people in Kianyaga own land and animals, but they do not have any liquid capital. This is due mainly to the fact that when they have extra crops to take to market, so does everyone else in the village, causing market prices at their local market to drop drastically. As these farmers do not have the means to bring their crops elsewhere, they have to settle for what they will get at their local market.
I have known for a long time that I want to work in international development, but this internship solidified my desire to do so on the ground in East Africa, and not North America. Being in rural Kenya for the summer also made me realize how much more I still have to learn, both on the ground and in school. Before this internship, I was thinking about pursing a masters in global health or public policy, but after being in Kenya, I have become more interested in international relations, as I think that plays a large part in both the effectiveness of aid in a country as well as global health.
I would like to thank Carol and Lloyd Darlington, who funded the Carol and Lloyd Darlington Arts Internship Award that I received, which financed my flights and living costs during the internship, as well as allowed me and my fellow intern to give back to people in Kianyaga when we left, including helping an Elimu employee and his wife set up a small shop in their village.
