My internship in Sri Lanka

Hello Christine! You did an internship in Sri Lanka as a part of you studies at the Master’s Programme in Public Health Science. Why did you choose to do an internship abroad?
– To gain a broader understanding of health issues worldwide. Having spent my entire life in a Western context, I wanted to experience firsthand public health work and its challenges in a different setting, the Global south.

Why did you choose to go to Sri Lanka?
– The exchange in Sri Lanka gave me the opportunity to combine my two passions: working in health promotion and community health projects – and surfing!

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Tell us more about your internship.
– I interned for ten weeks at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, at the Department of Health Promotion. The Department’s main focus is to work with health promotion using a community-based approach. The goal is to empower communities to improve their health, for example through projects that target nutrition, money management, tobacco and alcohol usage, and mental health.

What was your tasks?
– I had a variety of tasks. I went on field visits, participated in student discussions, gave lectures to undergraduate students, and attended meetings with NGOs and governmental organizations.

What has been the best/most challenging part of your internship experience?
– Definitely the friendly and incredibly helpful locals! The most challenging part was dealing with cultural differences and the feelings of being different and not belonging I had at the beginning of my internship.

What did you learn as an intern?
– I got to see some fascinating health promotion strategies and tools in action! It gave me a fresh perspective on public health. Above all, I’ve learned how to navigate cultural differences and how important it is to stay open-minded and adaptable when working in a different environment. It wasn’t always easy, but you need to let go of your preconceptions and learn how to do things in a new way.

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Tell us about life outside your internship. What did you do in your free time?
– I loved exploring tourist attractions, trying out local cafes and food, and traveling south for surfing on long weekends. After work, I often went to the university swimming pool or gym to get my daily workout.

What did you know about Sri Lanka before, and has your perception changed?
– I thought it would be much harder to travel as a solo female traveler. But I was surprised how easy it was! I’m really glad I did it on my own because it gave me the freedom to create an experience perfectly aligned to my interests.

What has the exchange given you, and any tips for others considering one?
– The exchange taught me to be open-minded, patient, and flexible. Things don’t always work the same way as they do in Europe. My biggest tip is to embrace the uncertainty, be patient, and trust the process – everything will work out in the end.

What do you want to do in the future? Dream job?
– My dream is to work for the WHO or the European Community, where I can help shape the future of health through policymaking. I want to contribute to creating impactful policies that improve health systems and promote well-being on a global scale.

Text: Nina Raun