Coming of age in a single parent household, my mother made clear the importance of assembling a village of family, friends, etc., to ensure that my sister and I had access to the resources necessary for a happy and healthy upbringing. Having said that, I believe that we live within a global village, where it is our inherent duty to share our resources – be they knowledge, talent, and/or capital – with our fellow villagers to ensure that everyone can lead the healthy and happy lives that my personal village allotted me.

In the spirit of sharing with the village, I will have the privilege of embarking on a 9-month fellowship with the non-profit Mama Hope as a Global Advocate. This October, I will travel to Budondo, Uganda to partner with the Suubi Health Centre (Suubi), the primary program for the Budondo Intercultural Centre (BIC) in their joint effort to provide access to maternal and child health services to over 55,000 lives. Specifically, my role will involve supporting the expansion of Suubi's health analytics capabilities, maternal and child health initiatives, and financial sustainability initiatives.

In a nation that has the 36th highest maternal mortality rate and the 20th highest infant mortality rate in the world (as of 2015), the Suubi Health Center serves as a beacon of hope for these two vulnerable populations. As an example of their success, between September 2016 and September 2017, Suubi provided antenatal care to 927 women, immunized 973 children, and participated in 271 safe deliveries.

I feel honored and humbled to have the opportunity to partner with these two organizations this fall and I hope that you can support us in our endeavors. Thank you so very much!!