Projects• Conducted field research on safe drinking water

practices by testing bacterial content of water sources, members of the Naama community , and holding weekly health information sessions

• After analyzing data to effectively decrease frequency of waterborne illnesses, implemented Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) project in Naama Millennium Preparatory School and in over 30 households

• Collaborated with Duke team members and the Red Cross to organize Naama Health Fair, providing free vaccinations, STD testing & health workshops for over 2,000 Ugandan villagers

• Established a SODIS training committee to teach local villagers about cost-effective ways to improve sanitation

• Founded Good Hope Soccer Club, an awareness initiative mobilizing youth to stop the spread of AIDS

• Developed & instructed English lessons plans for local primary school, highlighted on ABC World News by Diane Sawyer

Place

I lived in Mityana, a town in central Uganda that is located 48 miles away from Kampala, Uganda’s capital and largest city.

Work•Traveled around Naama collecting and testing water samples •Spending time with the children at Naama’s orphanage Travel

I had the opportunity to bungee jump over the Nile River, white-water raft on the Nile River, and go on a safari!

Work &Travel

• Kathy and John Santini for supporting my dreams, even when they take me far away from home

• Minda Brooks for all of her faith and encouragement throughout the years

• Sumi Ariely and Dr. Kikongo for helping me prepare for the journey and offering advice throughout the project implementation process

• Robinah Jevelah for being a wonderful teammate, translator, and best friend

Shout outs

I could write an entire book about all the lessons I learned from living in Uganda and about all the incredibly generous people met. I was utterly amazed at how my students from Good Hope club have been to me and it was a blessing to spend two months of my life with them. I am proud to say that I still keep in contact with some students from Good Hope Club. Although I am back in Duke’s fast-paced world, I still think about my experiences in Naama every single day. My students and many other people from Naama have been a true inspiration, and I am eternally grateful to them. I also learned that I have a strong passion for making a positive change. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, I wish to “be the change I wish to see in the world.”

People & Lessons

Naama, Uganda

Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) Team

One of my students from my AIDs Awareness Initiative proudly holds his HIV-negative result from free HIV testing at Naama Health Fair (Below)

Naama Health Fair (Below)

Naama Millennium Preparatory School

Ugandan Safari

Good Hope Club

Naama Village Wildlife

Naama

Summer 2011- Ally Santini