I had the unforgettable opportunity to intern with the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation during the Media in Ghana Program in the summer of 2013. While there, I supported the development of demand-generation campaigns designed to educate Ghanaians about the importance of HIV testing. On one particular day my colleagues and I had the opportunity to visit a mobile testing site to see firsthand the outcome of the campaign–people lined up around the block to empower themselves and their community by getting tested.

I carried what I learned in Ghana to a career in international development. I am an Associate Program Officer on the Family Planning team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Not a day goes by when I’m not grateful for my experience in Ghana and the impact it had on my understanding of the world as well as my career.

By: Kaleigh Young