More than a number: finding purpose in monitoring and evaluation
As a sophomore in college, I changed my major to social work, declaring that “I just want to work with people.” Not formulas and theories – just real, live people. I rejoiced at the math-free curriculum and loved my direct-practice internships in refugee resettlement and school social work. But somewhere along the way my thinking […]
The Accidental Dognapper
My morning walks with Duke are only partly for the dog’s benefit; mostly, they’re a chance for me to clear my head before work. As Partnership Officers liaising between the Malawi Ministry of Health and the Office of the President and Cabinet, my co-fellow and I spend most of our time charting the gray areas […]
A Unique Leadership Quality
You will hardly find this attribute among ideal leadership traits, qualities or requirements in literature for leadership development. You will most likely never hear it as a virtue that people thought to be born leaders innately have. In fact, whether leaders are ‘born’ or ‘made,’ is still a matter of enduring debate. Whether they have […]
Murmured Words or: Why I Learn “Useless” Languages
“Subiramo muhalo” Say it again, slowly. The Monitoring and Evaluation office bursts into laughter around me, knowing smiles exchanged over my clumsy efforts. Only a month has passed since I arrived at Partners in Health as the new M&E Global Health Corps Fellow and my language skills leave much to be desired. My co-worker looks back […]
Of cities and stories within a city
I’ve been in DC a little over a month now. Every time I had come to this city before moving here, I said to myself, “Ah! I want to live here! I love the energy in this city!”. And I’m here. It’s crazy and amazing. I really didn’t know what to expect. New city, new […]