Interns are a valuable part of the work we do at Curamericas Global. These individuals volunteer their time, talent, and passion for global public health to work towards saving the lives of mothers and children. As part of our Strategic Plan and long-term commitment to volunteers, we provide a professional and meaningful experience for interns to gain real-world experience and contribute to a meaningful mission. This fall, we are excited to welcome our new interns:

Sona Salahuddin

We’re excited to introduce our new Administrative Intern, Sona Salahuddin! Sona is a recent graduate of Meredith College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. While in college, she was a member of the Curamericas Global Club where she first learned about our mission. During her junior year of college, Sona studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark to learn more about medical practice and policy. She feels that working at Curamericas Global allows her to both work for an organization that makes a significant impact on the lives of people who need it the most and allows her to learn about the different roles everyone plays in a non-profit organization. Sona hopes to attend medical school and continue to be involved in organizations like Curamericas Global in the future as a clinical volunteer. When she’s not watching her favorite movie Pride and Prejudice, you can find Sona learning different languages. She’s fluent in Farsi, understands Urdu, and is currently learning Turkish!

Nikita Gandhi

This fall Nikita Gandhi joins the ranks as one of our Events and Outreach Interns! Nikita is originally from Elon, NC. After receiving a Bachelor’s of Art in Criminal Justice from Campbell University, she returned to Campbell and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Public Health degree. In college, Nikita was involved in many different organizations including the Student Government Association, Public Health Association, Mock Trial Team, Campbell University Athletics Pep Band, and helped start a Delta Phi Epsilon sorority chapter at the university. Nikita hopes to pursue a career in the fields of public health, nonprofits, and marketing/communications when she graduates this upcoming spring. As an intern at Curamericas Global, Nikita feels that she will be able to learn more about global health and about what Curamericas Global does for rural communities around the world. In her free time, you can find Nikita cheering on the Carolina Panthers, watching movies, listening to music, and dreaming of one day visiting Venice, Italy.

Marissa Stephenson

We’re are also happy to have Marissa Stephenson on board as an Administrative Intern! Marissa is currently a sophomore at Meredith College, pursuing a degree in Public Health. She hopes to go into Health Administration and is eager to help people in need. Marissa loves to travel and has been to Italy, Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. Martin, and the Cayman Islands and hopes to travel to New Zealand, Australia, Greece. Traveling has not slowed Marissa down as she has volunteered with many different organizations including the Ronald McDonald House Habitat for Humanity among others. Marissa believes that no individual should die because of inadequate health care, a problem that can be fixed. It is important to bring adequate health care to individuals who do not have access to basic health services.

Purva Trivedi

Purva Trivedi also joins the team as an Events and Outreach Intern! Purva is a recent graduate of Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC where she received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Women’s Studies. While in her senior year of college, Purva was the Student Government Vice President where she worked with her executive board on a platform of embracing the diversity of the student body. She also spent the spring of her junior year in Oslo, Norway where she learned about gender equality in Nordic countries as well as medical practices with a focus on women’s health. She is passionate about public health, having traveled to India to intern at a non-profit organization in 2014 and continuing her efforts stateside with an internship at the Forsyth County Department of Public Health in early 2017. As she believes in the power of community-based health programming, Purva feels that Curamericas Global will help her learn about sustainable program development.

Su’Vanna Daves

We’re lucky to have Su’Vanna Daves join us as a volunteer this fall! Su’Vanna is currently pursuing a degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conversation with a minor in Non-profit management from NC State University. Su’Vanna is originally from Zachary, Louisiana but has been able to experience many different cities having lived in Oklahoma and finally Raleigh. Su’Vanna spends her free time painting and original artwork by Su’Vanna will be showcased in the silent auction for our fourth annual Hops for Hope event on November 28th! She loves animals and she hopes to start a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in the future. As she hopes to open a nonprofit of her own after graduation, she is excited to intern at Curamericas Global as it is giving her first-hand experience with how a nonprofit operates.

Ashton Jones is also a newcomer to the Curamericas Global office team this fall! Ashton is a freshman in high school and joins us after having traveled with Curamericas Global to Guatemala last spring. She was able to experience the beautiful culture and see the work Curamericas Global does first hand. Although Ashton is homeschooled, she still is involved in her community; she works at an art studio and is a part of the FFA and Oak City Academy. She hopes to travel the world and experience more cultures. This upcoming spring, Ashton will travel to Antigua, Guatemala for 4 months to learn and become fluent in Spanish. She spends her free time playing tennis, drawing, playing the guitar, and hanging out with her family and guinea pigs. She is excited to get some real-world experience through this internship as well as help out a good cause. 

Lori Jones is another volunteer who has joined us this fall! Lori is a high school student who also joins us after having traveled with Curamericas Global to Guatemala last spring with her sister, Ashton. Lori likes to travel and has traveled to a couple different countries in Europe including Germany and the Netherlands in addition to her trip to Guatemala. Lori spends her free time learning how to scuba dive and hanging out with her guinea pigs.

Irem Unal also joins us as a volunteer this fall! Irem is a senior at NC State University. Her family is originally from Turkey and she goes back every chance she gets. She also volunteers within her community and is currently volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. Irem is excited to work with Curamericas Global because she believes that everyone deserves access to healthcare resources.

Article by: Purva Trivedi, Curamericas Events and Outreach Intern

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