LEAD fellowship and visiting Uganda was an amazing and eye-opening experience for me. It was humbling to be part of a large group of trainees across different programs and learn about their work and interests. The forum was rich in knowledge, and engaging with beneficiaries during sessions and panels was genuinely heartwarming.
The initial week was highlighted by our visits to Makerere University and the Parliament. Conversations with researchers at the university and policymakers in the Parliament provided a broader and more comprehensive understanding of the region’s challenges and opportunities. However, it was the field visits during the second week that left the deepest imprint on my heart. They helped me see the reasons behind Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Ugandan Minister of Health, speaking so highly about the contributions of ICHAD in Uganda. The visit to Kasensero Health Center II was particularly poignant, bearing witness to the fishing villages known since 1982 for their tragically high HIV mortality rates. Interacting with community members and leaders was an honor, and those conversations are moments I’ll hold dear. The warmth of our welcome at ICHAD partner schools was magical. The sight of children greeting us with vibrant dances and their colorful dresses will forever be etched in my memory.
After the forum, I had a chance to visit the Bidibidi refugee settlement, one of the largest refugee settlements in the world. I have worked in different countries over the past 15 years with refugees but have never seen the level of vulnerability that I witnessed at the Bidibidi refugee settlement. I came back to the US with the motivation needed to write research proposals to go back to the Bidibidi settlement. I believe the fellowship planted a seed in my heart that will shape and guide my career trajectory in the years ahead.