I've had the chance to participate in multiple trips abroad that provided me with both unique educational opportunities and insight to different global perspectives.
Sierra Leone
In 2016, I spent time as a program officer in Makeni, Sierra Leone helping to further an affordable greenhouse venture I had been working on for over a year with the Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship program at Penn State. The venture was already operating in Sierra Leone and several other sub-Saharan African countries, but my team was introducing and implementing several new tools to help struggling farmers, including a decision support tool to educate new farmers and help them get started with their greenhouse and a troubleshooting guide to help address the common challenges they may encounter growing in a greenhouse.
Senegal
In 2016, I spent time based in Mbour, Senegal doing public health research at a regional-level hospital. I spent most of my time in the Emergency Department shadowing and observing Dr. Koudouss Mama. Our research helped the hospital evaluate success of public health initiatives in the Emergency Department and led to policy changes to increase program effectivenes. On the weekends, I volunteered with the non-profit Weer Africa, a close partner of the hospital, to conduct health screening days in rural areas with less access to health care.
Zambia
In 2015, my research partner and I interviewed people from Zambia about their product preferences, hoping to gain some insight about consumers in emerging economies. I also acted as a program officer for the affordable greenhouse venture we were piloting in the country. These greenhouses were marked to women's cooperatives and small-holder farmers to help fill health and economic gaps in the area.
Honduras
I traveled with the organization Global Brigades to a rural, mountainous village located outside of Tegucigalpa, Honduras during Spring Break 2015. During my time there, I aided in constructing and completing two latrines, two water storage systems, two eco-stoves, and over ten rooms of concrete flooring.
Ghana
In January 2014, I assisted in building two latrines for local families in order to improve sanitation and health in a rural village in Ghana with my organization Global Brigades. We also had the chance to tour a historic landmark from Africa's slave trade era and participate in many cultural activities with the villagers.
Costa Rica
During the Summer of 2012, I assisted in maintaining a greenhouse and environmental conservation projects, experimented with renewable energy projects, and worked on a dairy farm for my lodging and food, as well as having the chance to participate in many recreational activities such as backpacking through the rainforest and white water rafting.