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2011 reSource Interns

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The 2011 Water Track and Women’s Track Interns have returned from the field. For the last several months these young adults from across Canada have been working in Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, the Philippines, and Uganda.

Interns in the Water Track served alongside our local partners in a variety of aspects of the Household Water Program including filter construction, health and hygiene education, and development of monitoring tools.

Our Women’s Track interns helped create opportunities for women in the developing world to break the cycle of poverty and exploitation through assisting partners with baseline data collection, curriculum development, and organizing locally-applicable resources.

 

Women’s Track

Anne – Kenya

Anne graduated with a Bachelor’s of Commerce degree from Ryerson University in Toronto and has a professional background in analytics. She has a passion for work that restores hope and dignity to women throughout the developing world. A trip to Bihar in northern India was her first exposure to the plight of exploited women. “It impacted me in such a way that I want to help women in similar circumstances in other parts of the world,” Anne says. Anne’s goal is to continue to work in international development and further her passion for capacity building.

Jacqueline – Philippines
A graduate in social work from the University of Calgary, Jacqueline believes her internship was an excellent opportunity to obtain experience working overseas while developing the skills she acquired at university. Her previous experience with Youth With A Mission working with women in Amsterdam’s red light district sparked her interest in organizations that help women leave prostitution. She used her time in the Philippines to explore this interest. 

Jocelyn – Kenya
A Bachelor of Arts graduate in developmental studies from the University of Calgary, Jocelyn has a heart for working to help bring relief to
people who are suffering. “I would like to work in international development,” she says. “This internship helped me experience what that
work would be like."  For Jocelyn, being an intern was the fulfillment of a dream. She particularly likes the passion and holistic approach that Samaritan’s Purse brings to getting not only getting women out of prostitution but also providing them with education, job training, counseling and Biblical spiritual direction.

Maria – Philippines
For Maria, her internship was an opportunity to return to her native country in a way that is relevant to her education in Canada. Her ultimate goal is to work for and represent either Canada or the Philippines abroad, preferably working with a non-government organization or a consular office. Maria left the Philippines at age 18 and before entering university felt called to serve there. “In an effort to compromise with God, I said I’d do so after finishing my degree, and this came up,” she says. “Be careful what you ask for!”

 

Water Track

Alicia – Cambodia
Alicia looked forward to learning about Cambodia and ministering to both the physical and spiritual needs of its people. Her passion is to empower communities that yearn for knowledge and change by helping them understand how improving one aspect of health can have a major impact on other areas of their lives, such as education and work. A graduate of Ontario’s University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Science degree in health studies, her goal is to pursue a graduate degree in public health.

Eric– Kenya

Since his first year of university, Eric has harbored a desire to work for a Christian relief and development agency. A Bachelor of Arts graduate in international relations from the University of Calgary, with a minor in development studies, Eric travelled to Africa in 2007 and considered it a privilege to return to minister to its people in 2011. “I have a burden to help individuals who do not have the essentials required to live a healthy life, physically and spiritually,” Eric says.

Benedict – Cambodia
Benedict was attracted to the intern program because of the practical nature of the work. “With a proven record of effectiveness, the BioSand Water Filter is one of the most sustainable ways of alleviating the global water crisis,” he says. On a trip to Central America in 2010, Benedict saw many children with parasitic infections caused by consuming contaminated water and developed a passion for water issues. Having graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, specializing in neurosciences, Benedict plans to pursue a medical education (and a career as a physician).

Jennifer - Bolivia
“The burden of water was placed on my heart many years ago,” Jennifer says. Upon graduating from York University in Toronto, she worked on a water project in India with another relief agency. She applied for the Samaritan’s Purse Water Track internship to continue meeting the physical and spiritual needs of the poor. Her passion is to help meet the basic needs of people and to help others help themselves by providing them not only with the means to live but also a reason to live. Her goal is to become a water project manager.

Geoff – Kenya
Geoff earned an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies from St. Stephen’s University in New Brunswick. He applied for his internship to grow spiritually and professionally through an international work experience. He visited Kenya for two weeks before his internship to look at international development projects and partnerships. Geoff’s ambition is to further the Gospel message by pursuing a career in international development.

Adam – Kenya
Adam has been passionate about water science for the past five years, earning a Master of Science degree in hydrology from the University of Saskatchewan. During his Samaritan’s Purse internship, he wanted to discover new cultures and meet new people, experience the difference that clean water can make in someone’s life, and witness God’s hand at work. His ambition is to help people in developing countries or regions affected by disasters obtain access to clean water.

Sarah – Uganda

“My passion is to work with people on a physical, social, emotional and spiritual level to help them live better lives,” says Sarah, who holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. Experiencing the challenges faced by aboriginal people in northern Ontario in accessing safe water affirmed her wish to be part of the Water Track internship. Stephen Lewis’ book Race Against Time inspired her to serve in Africa. Sarah’s long-term goal is to learn more about community development and health care outcomes in preparation for a career in a developing country.

Peter – Kenya

With a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Master of Divinity degree from Ambrose University in Calgary, Peter is passionate about walking with Jesus and introducing others to Him through tangible expressions of His love. “I volunteered in Niger last year and saw the devastating impact diarrheal diseases can have on communities,” he says. He also supports an organization that helps provide basic needs for Kenyan orphans. Peter’s desire is to continue to serve God as an international Christian worker.

Hannah-Beth – Bolivia

“God has spoken in many ways – I am confident that I am going forth and following His leading,” Hannah-Beth says. “It’s always easier to board a plane for some distant land when you know God is going ahead of you.”  Hannah-Beth’s passion is to work in Latin America helping people who don’t have the resources to help themselves. A graduate in Spanish and development studies from the University of Calgary, she hopes this internship will open doors for her to continue developing personally and professionally.

Nina – Uganda

Nina is a Bachelor of Arts graduate of Vancouver’s Simon Fraser University who majored in international politics with an extended minor in health science. She wants to earn a Master’s degree in public health and work in international health advocacy. “I want to contribute to the development of a community in a tangible way,” Nina says. “This (internship) was an amazing opportunity to get my career started, begin contributing and keep learning." In 2010, Nina spent six months in west Africa on a student exchange at the University of Ghana.

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