Interns on a Mission: Bridging Cultures and Promoting Health in Cipanas

For one transformative month, three dedicated students—Kelvin Bradshaw, Marguerite “Greta” Andrews, and Fernanda Moniz—joined Yayasan Usaha Mulia (YUM) for a public health internship that left a lasting impression not only on the communities they served but also on themselves.

Under the guidance of YUM staff member Aris Gunawan, the trio embarked on a shared mission: to support and promote public health initiatives for elderly populations in rural Indonesia. Their base was Cipanas, a hillside region where warmth from the community coexists with pressing health challenges.

Before arriving, the team anticipated a landscape shaped by limited access to healthcare, widespread malnutrition, and infrastructural hurdles. They also prepared for communication barriers and the need to adapt to grassroots, low-resource environments. Yet what they discovered was far more enriching. From their very first day, they were welcomed with open hearts, and quickly realized that empathy, respect, and adaptability were just as vital as any academic preparation.

Central to their internship was a series of five educational presentations aimed at elderly community members. The sessions covered key health topics—nutrition, hygiene, physical activity, mental health, and the dangers of smoking—and were designed to be practical, relevant, and accessible.

But their role extended well beyond the classroom. Determined to make their material resonate, the interns immersed themselves in the community through field visits, where they observed daily routines, joined cooking classes with younger mothers, explored YUM’s sustainable farm, and spoke directly with beneficiaries and local health workers. These experiences not only refined their content but also expanded their perspective.

Adapting to new environments, communicating across cultures, and engaging with vulnerable groups challenged the interns to grow in real time. Each encounter called for humility and active listening, allowing them to build trust and connect meaningfully despite language and cultural differences. With every visit and interaction, they learned to appreciate the depth and nuance of lived experiences very different from their own.

In addition to their presentations and fieldwork, the team contributed to YUM’s 2025 Annual Report, conducted interviews, and supported various community programs. Their efforts reinforced how impactful localized, community-driven solutions can be—and how young changemakers can play a role in amplifying them.

As their time in Cipanas drew to a close, Kelvin, Greta, and Fernanda left not just with completed projects, but with a deepened understanding of what community health truly means. They discovered that change begins with small, consistent steps—whether in the form of a hygiene session or a shared meal—and that these efforts can ripple outward in powerful ways.

Their internship was more than a requirement fulfilled—it became a journey of growth, connection, and shared humanity. YUM is honored to have been part of their story and remains grateful for the care and commitment they brought into every space, every moment, and every heart they met along the way.