Public Health Interns Transform Communities

Dear Leadership Initiatives Donor,

This year, Renny, Sree Akshar, Akshar, Anagh, Karesha, Ishana, and Vedanth, a team of dedicated interns from Team 26449, are working on a Safe Drinking Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) project in Jitar. They have already conducted extensive research and are now developing baseline survey questions to better understand how this issue is being addressed within the community.

Guided by Nuru, a Leadership Initiatives Project Coordinator who is based in our field office in Bauchi, the team is collaborating with community leaders and local health professionals to listen first, learn about daily realities, and identify both challenges and opportunities for lasting change.

The baseline survey that Renny, Sree Akshar, Akshar, Anagh, Karesha, Ishana, and Vedanth are creating will be the foundation for a successful community workshop. It will gather accurate, first-hand information about how people live, what they know, and what they need most. The results provide a clear picture of current conditions before any new program begins. This allows Leadership Initiatives to measure real progress over time and design solutions that are rooted in evidence rather than assumptions.

For many residents of Jitar, this is the first time anyone has asked about their experiences, concerns, and hopes for the future. These surveys give community members a genuine voice and an opportunity to shape the programs that affect their families. By sharing their stories, they become active partners in creating healthier and stronger communities.

Once the survey is complete, the team will work with leaders to pilot it in Hausa and English and train local enumerators to collect data respectfully with informed consent. The survey will measure knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the chosen topic, along with access to services and environmental or seasonal challenges.

Your generosity is helping lay the foundation for lasting improvements in community health. Through their research, surveys, and conversations with local families, our interns are working alongside community leaders to understand the health challenges residents face and identify the solutions that would make the greatest difference. Together, they will help shape long-term development priorities that may include solar-powered clean water wells, improved schools, new healthcare clinics, and small household grants that help families access essential resources. Your donation helps turn this collaboration into meaningful action, supporting community-driven projects that can prevent illness, expand access to care, and improve the health and well-being of families for generations to come.

With gratitude,

Jessica Bailly
Director of Development 

Leadership Initiatives