I thought it was just a story or a theory that one American fellow is paired with a local fellow during the GHC fellowship year. It really sounded like a myth, but it turned out to be true when we all met at Yale University for training.
Meeting at Yale was a once-in-a-lifetime experience of meeting diverse young professionals from different backgrounds and identities, all in one room. The group of fellows represented a model of inclusive behaviors and set the tone for a culture that embrace diversity.
As an IT specialist, it reminded me of computer networking – from one single computer to two computers to three, all joined by one device. This time ,as humans, we were joined by one organization with a theme of embracing diversity. Global Health Corps provides a chance for people with different backgrounds to come together to promote mutual understanding, respect, friendship, and to cultivate long-lasting relationships among young people who are poised to become tomorrow’s global leaders and policy makers.
This has all been done by pairing fellows from different backgrounds to work together for a year. The presence of retreats within the fellowship year has assisted in promoting a common understanding, purpose, and a shared commitment to diversity and inclusion in our different placement organizations.
Through the retreats we are able to share tools, resources, and best practices for launching sustainable diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout the Global Health Corps community. As an East African fellow, the regional retreat at Kingfisher brought a sense of togetherness (Ubuntu) among American, Ugandan, Rwandan and Burundian fellows.
It provided an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of our differences, learning how to effectively address complex issues, and learning how to cultivate a safe and inclusive environment in an organization or workplace. The activities at the retreat included sports and talent shows which created a platform for getting to know each other and for sharing ideas, concepts and future career goals. It does not stop at physical interaction, it also involves continuous virtual networking through social media, including GHC’s Facebook page and LinkedIn groups.
