Ravi Jaipaul will apply the knowledge he gained at the University of Alberta nursing program to support people living in the landlocked, hilly country in eastern Africa.
Jaipaul, a resident of Ponoka, was selected as one of 20 youth interns from across Canada to participate in the Coady International Institute’s Youth In Partnership Program. He left for Kigali, Rwanda March 28.
“My role is to work as an instructor at the Kigali Health Institute teaching biology, chemistry, physics and nursing courses to student nurses,” said Jaipaul. “Retaining qualified instructors is proving to be difficult, so an opportunity to teach is very exciting.”
Jaipaul decided to apply to the program because of his interest in international health and desire to use his skills to empower others.
“After struggling to find work in Alberta as a nurse, I jumped at the opportunity to work with an organization that has a need for the skills I learned. The experience will make a positive impact in Rwanda, and be a unique work experience for me,” added Jaipaul.
Jaipaul and 19 other youth interns underwent an intense two-week orientation session at the Coady International Institute on the campus of St. Francis Xavier University of Antigonish, N. S.
The Coady International Institute’s Youth In Partnership program gives Canadian university graduates experience working with development organizations in their field of study. The program helps them increase their understanding of global development issues while contributing to the Coady Institute’s overseas partnerships.
The Coady Institute has received funding from the Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to offer 60 international internships to qualified university and college graduates over the next two years.