Meet Our Spring '21 Interns!
Emily
Emily Blakeborough, a senior at Chico State University, is continuing her internship here at illuminAid while studying Health Education. She is a bright addition to our organization and works with the illuminAid team to help contribute to the global impact illuminAid is making. Emily stated, “one of the most memorable moments last year was incorporating my education in health science to interview a public health professional based in Nigeria and learn about the battle to eradicate polio. I would have never gotten that opportunity without illuminAid. I love this work because I wanted to make a difference in the world and help people in need.”
Emily stated that she couldn't pass up the opportunity to come back for her final semester in Chico to devote even more time to this special organization. It has given her a chance to broaden her skills in the workplace and outside of illuminAid as well. She told fellow intern Natalie, “I have been able to work on a variety of projects so far ranging from creating social media content, implementing fundraising strategies and writing newsletter articles.” This array of different skill sets has given Emily an enhanced sense of confidence in her ability to be a valuable asset to any job or opportunity that comes her way.
After finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Health Education in May 2021, Emily plans to move back home to San Diego. Working at illuminAid has given Emily the passion to continue with nonprofit work and humanitarian aid. Although she doesn’t yet know where her career path will go, she’s got a few ideas: “I hope to get more opportunities to travel and help communities in need. I am very interested in medical equipment and devices and would love to work as a sales representative for a company that aligns with my values.” The illuminAid team is very grateful for Emily’s contributions to this organization, and we look forward to seeing what she will accomplish with us this year!
Natalie
Natalie Litvak is a graduating senior at Chico State University studying International Relations. Introduced to illuminAid by her advisor, Dr. Jen Wilking, Natalie gained the opportunity to begin as an intern in Fall 2020. Natalie is immensely interested in humanitarian work and believes that “knowledge is the route to a better future - for anybody, anywhere in the world.” Natalie mentioned that “teaching positive behavioral change through the power of video technology, especially in areas where illiteracy is common, is instrumental in creating a brighter future.”
illuminAid provides Natalie with first-hand experience of working with a non-government organization, helping her better understand real life bilateral partnerships, and providing her with valuable hands-on experience of how organizations in her field of study successfully function. Natalie’s interest in this work flourished when she joined the Model United Nations team here at Chico State.
“Through local, national, and international conferences with the MUN team, I have represented a plethora of countries and learned about different ways of life, practices, and how different governments function across the globe.”
MUN opened her eyes to just how diverse governments and their people can be compared to American culture and western democracy. There are so many issues that people and their governments face that we are privileged to not have to face here in the United States. Natalie wants to find a way to work with NGOs and assist in creating long-term positive change and solutions in developing nations.
Natalie’s passions have made the opportunity to intern here at illuminAid a once-in-a-lifetime experience. After she graduates, her goal is to live abroad in either Latin America or New Zealand to work for the United Nations or an NGO. Natalie is an experienced traveler and has already visited 22 different countries and backpacked through Europe, but she isn’t done yet! She wants to travel as much as she can and help people along the way through NGOs, IGOs, and state governments.