Alumni Interview with Catherine Tran

What inspired you to travel abroad? 

I have been very fortunate to travel to East Africa (Rwanda and Tanzania) as a missionary in 2017 whereby I worked with disadvantaged children who were not able to live at home. I found during my time on mission that there was such a need for counselling for children, adolescents, and adults alike. However, in my role at the time, providing counselling was not a possibility. After completing my mission, and working at home as a Counsellor, it remained with me the need for counselling in disadvantaged communities in East Africa. Given how much I adore East Africa, I aspired to find a way to offer counselling support to communities in need, and thus why I went abroad in 2018. 

Why did you choose International Medical Aid? 

I decided to apply and undertake an internship program with International Medical Aid (IMA) as IMA was one of the very few programs that offered a mental health specialisation to students and practitioners alike and in East Africa (Kenya specifically). Additionally, IMA's mental health program allowed me to learn more about trauma counselling, as well as gender-based violence. With that said, survivors of gender-based violence are most definitely a vulnerable population group, and without a doubt require access to trauma counselling, among other supports. IMA provided me opportunities to both learn more about trauma counselling as well as to utilise my existing counselling skills – and with clients in need. 

What was your favorite part about Mombasa, Kenya? 

Mombasa, Kenya is a very diverse city, and one that is very welcoming. I appreciate the simplicity of the day-to-day living in Mombasa which is much less complicated and far less technological based. I found the humility of the locals very inspiring and it always reminded me to be grateful for what I have and to always work hard. 

What made your experience abroad extraordinary? 

The clients that I worked with at the hospital, and the students that I met at several schools, are equally what made my time in Kenya extraordinary. Having the opportunity to build a counselling relationship with my clients was an absolute honour. I learnt firsthand how my clients were hurting, suffering, felt betrayed, and fighting to move forward, among other presentations. Being able to genuinely support a client by providing them with counselling based on their needs and goals is something I will always be grateful for. I was fortunate to work with many clients for several sessions so I was able to see my clients grow and to slowly rebuild their confidence and trust in others. There are no words that can describe what it was like for me to witness my clients finding themselves again, but, I am so grateful to have been a part of their healing process/journey.

On another note, the students who I met at three particular schools were children who I saw often, as part of an outreach program. This particular program was promoting education on gender-based violence so that children are aware of from a young age how gender-based violence impacts individuals, their families, their friends, and their communities. This program had a focus on using performing arts and debate in sharing what they learnt about gender-based violence to students of various ages within their school. Having the chance to speak to each school about the work that the hospital provides to survivors, how to ask for help, and how to recognise such violence, was a chance to further advocate in preventing gender-based violence within at risk communities.

I admire the courage the students possessed in educating their fellow classmates and students – and on a topic that is quite confrontational. Spending time with the students before and after each event reminded me of the importance and impact of making gender-based violence known within the community – in trying to ensure that gender-based violence can be tackled head on. 

How did the local staff support you throughout your program? 

IMA’s local staff were very organised, supportive, and available. Whether at the residence, hospital, school, hygiene clinic, medical camp, or excursion – our program mentors always worked incredibly hard to make sure that each intern’s needs were being met and catered to. Our residence staff included a chef, housekeepers, maintenance man, security guards, and driver; they too were always looking out for the interns and would assist us with any concerns or requests.

Within the hospital, in the clinic where I was based, my clinical supervisor and the clinic’s social worker would always support me in my work, as well as provide me with any assistance that I needed. In all honesty, I felt really well taken care of by the entire local staff, and that helped make my time abroad more comfortable and safe; it allowed me to feel more confident in my surroundings, which I truly appreciate. 

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad? 

One thing I wish I could have done differently when I was abroad would be to have worked on weekends at the clinic. The reason for this is due to that fact that many survivors of gender-based violence are sexually violated on weekends. However, the clinic does not open on weekends, due to not having the means to run the clinic on weekends and public holidays. Asides from that, even though I was at the clinic at times for half the day, and at other times all day, if I could have changed that, I would have stayed at the clinic all day Monday to Friday. 

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like. 

A typical weekday in Kenya for me began at 6.30am getting ready, having breakfast with my fellow housemates/interns, and then getting ready to go to the hospital for my rotation. At 8.30am, our residence driver would collect us and take us to the hospital, in time for a 9am start. Between 9am and 1.30pm, I would welcome clients to the clinic, counsel clients, and assist with any work needed to be done in the clinic. At 1.30pm, I would be picked-up by our residence driver, in time for lunch at 2pm at the residence.

During lunchtimes at the residence, the interns would share how their day was, and we would reflect on what stood out for us that day. Every few days, the program mentors would have an outreach activity, briefing, or cultural excursion for the interns to attend up until dinner time. Whether it be visiting a local orphanage, conducting a hygiene clinic, or a seminar on Kenya’s history – we were always offered local learning opportunities and experiences. Dinner would take place at 6 or 7pm, and then after dinner we would be free to rest and relax, or go to a local café with our housemates. I would try to go to bed at 10pm or 10.30pm on most weeknights. 

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad? 

In all honesty, I really enjoyed spending time with my housemates/interns, in getting to know them, and in sharing our experiences with each other. Given that I met interns from all different parts of the world, I found it incredibly exciting hearing what others had to say, and finding common ground and similarities between us all. There is always so much to learn from others and thus why I really enjoyed sharing my downtime with my housemates. 

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it? 

IMA’s residence consisted of a private residence in a secure compound in a very safe and quiet neighbourhood of Mombasa. All the bedrooms were shared and had either two or three interns in one room (and at times less or more). Each bedroom had its own en-suite, closet space for all, and even a balcony overlooking the neighbourhood. Additionally, there is a large living space and dining room, kitchen (which the resident chef manages), filtered water supply, backyard, swimming pool, and modern luxuries such as Wi-Fi and Netflix.

What I really appreciated most about the residence house was that I always knew we would be safe regardless of what time of the day it was. Given that we had a security guard 24 hours a day, I felt assured that it was safe, even when there was only a few of us interns at home late at night watching a scary film on Netflix. 

What is one thing every future participant should know about IMA before their program begins? 

One piece of advice that I would like prospective and future interns to know is that… It is really helpful to come into the internship program with an open mind. That is in terms of the local culture, language, the way of living for locals, how healthcare is practiced, and so forth. I think interns can really struggle with culture shock when they compare life in Kenya to the lifestyle the interns are used to in their home countries, or when interns expect Kenya to be more like their home countries, or when interns try to apply their own expectations onto another country. This is without realising that Kenya has its own struggles and difficulties on a daily basis. 

Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why? 

Most definitely yes! There are so many reasons as to why I would recommend this internship program to anyone interested in pursuing healthcare or is in the healthcare sector already. I think that IMA truly offers a genuine and transparent experience in learning, understanding, and taking part in the local healthcare system in Kenya. What we as interns are exposed to through our internship program in Kenya is realistic and with no frills. As an intern you will see the lack of resources, the creativity of practitioners, local student nurses taking on heavy responsibilities, queues of patients waiting to be seen, and most definitely the poverty and desperation through it all.

It can be heartbreaking working at the hospital, yes, but at the same time, you have the opportunity to assist the staff and clients. You don’t have to be qualified yet to be able to help in the hospital, whether it be escorting a patient to the outpatient block, sitting with a patient in the waiting room, assisting on rounds with a nurse, passing an instrument to a doctor or surgeon, or holding a client’s hand whilst they have their injection; there is so much to do either way. If you are qualified, that is great too, as you will have opportunities to practice within your own capacity, and of course with supervision where necessary. When practitioners intern, this allows the intern to be provided with in-depth local training before moving on to practice, and at the same time the local staff are able to attend to more patients, because they have more support at their disposal. 

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is? 

For me personally, it would definitely have to be exploring and experiencing another culture first hand, and through local partnerships. The reason why I say local partnerships is so that individuals can experience at a grassroots level the culture of another country from a local perspective. This is whilst contributing to the local community. I truly believe that when we learn about another culture and the local way of life, and from people that identify with that culture, it allows an individual to have a personal encounter with that culture. 

Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life? 

On a professional level, I am working as a Counsellor at home, and I find myself even more passionate about counselling, and working with at-risk communities. My time in Kenya has given me the courage and strength to advocate more than ever before for clients who have been affected by any kind of violence, feminism, and to be able to focus on providing specifically young women with specialist counselling services. On a personal level, I find myself especially grateful for what I was exposed to in Kenya, and it has really shaped my perspective on life. I feel both more appreciative and aware of my surroundings, especially thankful for the people in my life, a desire to contribute even more so to projects supporting those in need, and how simplicity overall can provide such peace and inner strength. 

What does meaningful travel mean to you? 

Meaningful travel for me is being able to genuinely offer yourself to a cause that resonates with you on a personal level.