Stephanie and I are placed at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in Zambia as Monitoring and Evaluation fellows. In our capacity as M&E fellows, we created a mini questionnaire to reflect on our GHC experiences.
Below are Stephanie’s responses to the questions.
1) What have you enjoyed the most about the GHC fellowship?
The GHC Zambia family has been the most amazing part about the GHC fellowship. Between my co-fellow Thandie, the other Zambia fellows, our program manager, and the alumni, I have a tight-knit community from which I constantly feel like I’m learning and laughing. It’s wonderful to have a group of people who constantly inspire and challenge you, and share a vision for a better world. It doesn’t hurt that we have a lot of really good cooks within the group, so I never go hungry!
2) What has been the best part of the co-fellow relationship?
Thandie is my one-stop shop. She’s like a sister to me – I can tell her anything and everything without fear of judgment or admonishment. She’s my home away from home –a constant source of laughter, support, encourage, and comfort. But I can also bounce ideas off of her for work or geek out on all things global health. We share so much in common both inside and outside the office, and it’s incredibly wonderful to have her so entwined with both my professional and personal life.
3) What has been the most challenging part of the co-fellow relationship?
Thandie’s family faced an unexpected hardship at the start of our fellowship year, and often times I’ve felt useless not being able to do more than provide her with moral support. Thandie is very resilient and has an amazing amount of inner strength, but still knowing that she’s worried and suffering and that there’s not much I can do to alleviate her burden has been hard.
4) What has been the most surprising thing you have learned from your co-fellow?
That when you castrate a lion, his mane falls off!
Perhaps not a surprising lesson but an important one nonetheless that Thandie continues to teach me is that, in her own words, “people are like spices and spices add flavor and variety to life. You may like some spices more than others, but each spice serves its purpose.” Wise words from a wise woman.
5) What has been the most memorable experience you have shared with your co-fellow?
There are too many shared memorable experiences to list here but I actually think that more than big moments, I most remember and cherish our daily check-ins. Every morning, the first thing Thandie and I do when we arrive at the office is debrief about what happened between the hours of 5pm and 7:30am when we’re not together at the office. You’d be surprised at how much there is to catch-up on a daily basis! And throughout the day, we’re in constant communication despite our busy and different schedules.
6) What do you like most about your co-fellow?
Thandie has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know and is so very kind and considerate, but she is also incredibly sassy and has no trouble speaking her mind. She keeps me on my toes! And her smile…her smile is definitely one of her best qualities.
Click here for part 1 of Thandiwe and Stephanie’s co-fellow check-in!