NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER: BRICK BY BRICK INTERNS SERVING THE PEOPLE OF UGANDA
In 2010 Brick by Brick launched our Internship Program. Since that time, fourteen bright and dedicated young people from the U.S., India and Uganda have partnered with our full time staff to serve the people of the Rakai and Kyotera Districts of Uganda. Unlike some internship programs, our interns are given the support as well as respect to produce extraordinary results in the one to three years that most spend in Uganda.
The track record has been impressive. Jonathan Thayil-Blanchard, a Peace Corp volunteer, began working with Brick by Brick in 2010 when he found himself underutilized by his host organization. Jonathan was an engineering student, pursing his Masters Degree at the University of South Florida. When he came to our Executive Director with an idea to promote a sustainable technology, Interlocking Stabilized Soil Bricks that prevents the destruction of forests and wetlands promulgated by traditional brick making, our board was excited about the idea. Six years later, Brick by Brick Construction Company is a successful and profitable social enterprise, with 30 masons working on projects throughout Uganda. Engineering student and Peace Corp volunteer John Trimmer expanded on this good work and along with School Program Coordinator, Max Ssenyonga, grew the company beyond our local districts.
Griffin Smith, at the time a recent college graduate, worked to build our organizational capacity, supporting our staff in basic computer and project management skills. Robin and Aaron Rentrope, were a powerful husband and wife team, who share a passion for social justice. All Robin did was launch our successful My Pads Program with Suzan Kyambadde, which to date has served 3200 adolescent girls and young women. Not to be overmatched, Aaron worked alongside Max to create our LEAD ORGANIZE INTEGRATE training workshop, which builds the capacity of school libraries.
For the past two years, Brick by Brick Construction has been graced with the presence of James Murduca, a passionate and hard working engineering student, who has partnered with our Construction Manager, David Mutesaasira, to further expand our social enterprise, building QA systems that ensure that we are constantly growing our company’s mission to promote the Triple Bottom Line, People, Planet, as well as Profit. In July, we welcomed three new interns, Anjana Krishnan, a recent graduate from the University of Illinois School of Engineering, and Liza Magill and Geraldine Kauma, both Global Health Corp fellows who will serve as Development and Communications Officers respectively.
These are just half of our interns. They are all extraordinary individuals, who have made a great impact during their service. Each and everyone has left Uganda a better place and taken the next exciting steps in their respective careers.
If being a Brick by Brick Intern seems like a good fit for you, reach out to us at info@brickbybrick.org.
