Virtual Internships: A Reflection

It has officially been six months since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The global pandemic has and will change many aspects of our daily lives. Covid-19 is not only affecting the health of millions, it also has adverse effects on our global economy; specifically, development funding. In the global development sector, funding is extremely …

Internships during a Global Pandemic

Our names are Abbey Lin and Taelyr Keeley. We are currently in our final year of the Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley. Before the COVID-19 pandemic spread throughout the globe, we applied and were accepted to participate in the East Africa Internship Program. We weren’t sure …

Foreign Aid: Hidden Agendas in Development

A few weeks ago, I sat in a conference meeting hosted by the European Union (EU) where they unveiled their Humanitarian Implementation Plan (HIP) 2019 for Somalia. Somalia’s situation is, “complicated,” to utilize the words of those representing the EU. Somalia is on the precipice of significant political, economic, social, and security developments that could …

Rethinking Food: Local and Global Stories

On March 5, 2018, the East Africa Interns from the Fall of 2017 hosted an event to showcase stories and presentations from the internships, and provide a space to talk about local projects focusing on the future of food in Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley. Joined by Abbotsford Community Services' Day 1 Urban Farm and …

Nairobi Food Day and The Future of Food

This week in Nairobi is another busy one of meetings and research as we dig deeper into our work with the East Africa Institute and UNOPS, as well as our volunteering and community involvement. All three of us interns got the joy of attending the EAI at the “Nairobi Food Day” event on Tuesday, joining …

Empty Grocery Aisles and an Introduction to Nairobi’s Food System

My first day in Nairobi three weeks ago included meetings, errands, and getting to know a small part of Nairobi with my fellow interns Chelsea and Karl. In search of some basic groceries, we decided to check out supermarket giant Nakumatt while visiting a local shopping centre. One of the largest and most wide-spread supermarket …

Reflections from Nairobi

Jambo! One of the patterns I have noticed in this vibrant city is her love for juxtapositions. Dusty, broken and trash littered sidewalks are walked upon by sharply dressed business people. Tall, modern buildings are neighbors with dilapidated and crowded markets; while gated, secure communities provide little protection against the incessant mosquitoes and boisterous traffic. …

The Journey Begins

Karibu! Thanks for visiting our East African Internship Blog. It is an exciting time for us as Queen Elizabeth Scholars to acclimatize ourselves to the East African region. Currently, we have six interns working in partnership with Ardhi University in Dar es Salaam.  We also have three interns working in Nairobi, Kenya. The Kenyan interns …