Olivia Lanchoney

During the summer of 2018, Olivia Lanchoney (Class of 2021) was a GROW intern, an experience that taught her the “value of grassroots organizations...in effecting real change” and the “incredible wealth of knowledge” possessed by GlobeMed@ND’s partner PEDA.

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On a typical day as a GROW intern in Laos, Olivia would wake up and take a cold bucket shower before heading to the PEDA office, located along the Mekong River in Vientiane, the capital. On the way to work, she would stop at a café, delighting in its “fantastically sweet” coffee, tea, and breakfast foods. At the office, she and the other interns would greet PEDA staff members before commencing their daily tasks, which sometimes included writing grants to funding sources like Australian Aid and the Global Fund or updating the PEDA website. She enjoyed talking with Mr. Santi, Thip, and other PEDA staff members about the various projects and initiatives PEDA was leading. In addition, having lunch with the office staff each day helped build a sense of community. She recalls one occasion where everyone stayed past 4 o’clock (the normal end of the work day) to celebrate PEDA and GlobeMed@ND’s long relationship, sharing food and observing a traditional Buddhist ceremony wishing the interns safe travel.

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As a GROW intern, Olivia had the opportunity to observe PEDA in action, accompanying staff members on trips from their office in Vientiane to far-away villages. These trips illuminated obstacles to healthcare, namely “extremely difficult roads” and “limited motor vehicles.” Moreover, Olivia observed women grinding grains for breakfast and dinner, a strenuous process that took hours. She couldn’t help but pose the following question: “If one of the women is feeling sick, is it worth it for her to travel days to get tested for malaria or seek medical care when she could potentially get better, and her family is relying on her for food?” To address some of these difficulties, Olivia saw that PEDA frequently checked in with communities in-person, “surveying villagers on their knowledge...to learn about gaps in their educational programs and shape their future directions.” While the “troublesome process of traveling to rural villages” may not have been “convenient,” PEDA recognized it as “necessary” to the building of trust and achievement of goals. Olivia was also inspired by PEDA’s humility, open-mindedness, and collaborative spirit when working with the villagers.

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Empowered by her GROW experiences, Olivia hopes to one day be a CDC physician that works with “local governments around the world to enact equitable health policies that will make quality healthcare more accessible.” She would like to implement the partnership model that she learned from PEDA, “empowering communities for sustainable futures,” and she plans to continue supporting PEDA. Olivia describes loving the GlobeMed community “with [her] whole heart” and looks forward to witnessing the future good works of the “engaging and passionate people” that comprise its membership. We thank Olivia for sharing her experiences with us!