Carmen Pedersen a graduate from St. Francis Xavier University in Edmonton has returned to the Calgary, Alberta, Canada after a six-month youth internship funded by Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) in Georgetown, Guyana.
Carmen Pedersen a graduate from St. Francis Xavier University in Edmonton has returned to the Calgary, Alberta, Canada after a six-month youth internship funded by Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) in Georgetown, Guyana.
Pederson, a Springbank Community High School graduate, convocated from St. Francis Xavier in Edmonton in May 2013 with a BSc. Advanced Major in Biology and aspires to become a doctor. She was working with a local non-government organization (NGO) called Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG).
Pedersen was a health research associate investigating health needs and opportunities in Guyana with the goal to create future health projects for the organization.
“I met with a variety of stakeholders in order to learn about current health needs and gaps in the Guyanese health system. I used this information to design new health initiatives for Youth Challenge, contributing to their well established health program,” said Pedersen.
She added through her research, she was able to create and propose three new health projects, one of which recently received funding and will be implemented in 2014.
“During my time in Guyana, I witnessed the negative effects of having limited access to health care,” she explained of her time in Guyana.
“This experience has really strengthened my passion to become a doctor and my desire to provide health care for those in need.”
Pedersen was one of 19 youth interns who participated in a three-week orientation at the Coady International Institute, in Antigonish NS, in June 2013 prior to departing for their individual placements.
After the participants completed their internships they returned to the Coady for a two-week re-entry session, helping to prepare them for re-integration into their Canadian lives.
“My next step is to write the MCATs and begin applying to Canadian medical schools,” Pedersen said.
“I will be looking for a job in Calgary and the surrounding communities that will allow me to apply the skills I have gained during my time in Guyana and throughout my time in university, preferably in the health sector.”
The Coady International Institute’s Youth In Partnership program gives Canadian university graduates experience working with development organizations in their field of study.
The program helps them increase their understanding of global development issues while contributing to the Coady Institute’s overseas partnerships. The Coady Institute has received funding from the Government of Canada through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD).
