SUMMER INTERN ABROAD PROGRAM

GLOBAL HEALTH (KENYA)

GLOBAL PRACTICUM

A 4-credit global practicum to develop skills, knowledge, and understanding that prepare you for leadership and engagement in our global society.

AT A GLANCE

  • Global Practicum Program
  • Disciplinary Track: Global Health
  • Intern Abroad Destination: Kenya
  • 2026 Dates: June 27-July 24 (4 weeks)
  • Credit: 4 U.S. credit hours (~ 8 ECTS credits) for eligible university students
  • Eligibility: Any field and level of study

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Implement public health solutions in Kenya
This Global Practicum in Kenya is a four-week, immersive practicum designed for students who are ready to apply their academic knowledge in a professional global health setting. This credit-bearing experience places students with local host organizations, where they work collaboratively on real-world health-related challenges while developing advanced professional and intercultural competencies.

Centered on GEI's Global Health curriculum, the program emphasizes practice-based learning, teamwork, and applied problem-solving. Students engage in supervised group project work aligned with their academic background and skills, while participating in weekly colloquiums, reflection sessions, and cultural activities facilitated by GEI faculty.
Program Highlights
  • A 4-week, credit-bearing Global Practicum (4 credits)
  • Supervised group placements with local host organizations
  • Project work aligned with students’ academic background and skills
  • Mentorship from GEI faculty and host organization supervisors
  • Weekly colloquiums, guided reflection, and cultural activities
  • Emphasis on professional development, ethics, and cultural intelligence
  • Final project presentation and post-program practicum report
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ACADEMICS

Program Structure
The Global Practicum in Global Health is an intensive, 4-credit program spanning four weeks in a host country in Africa or Asia. Students immerse themselves in hands-on public health work, collaborating with local healthcare providers, NGOs, and community health organizations to address pressing health challenges in resource-limited settings.

The program follows a structured, experiential learning model, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts. Working alongside medical professionals and public health experts, students contribute to health initiatives focused on infectious diseases, maternal and child health, mental health, and health systems strengthening.

Each week includes a combination of clinical or field-based health work, data collection, and project design, complemented by weekly class colloquia, reflection sessions, and cultural engagement activities to deepen learning and cross-cultural understanding.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the program, students will be able to:
  • Collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams to implement public health initiatives
  • Apply global health frameworks and field methods in Kenyan contexts
  • Engage ethically and interculturally with Kenyan health professionals and communities
  • Reflect critically on systems, culture, and personal growth in public health practice
  • Present a comprehensive digital portfolio that documents project outcomes and professional development
Further Details
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YOUR DESTINATION: KENYA

The powerhouse of the East African Community, Kenya is one of the most diverse countries in Africa. From the white sandy beaches and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean to volcanic mountains in the Great Rift Valley. From the vast savannahs to the lacustrine highlands near Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake on the continent. Cultural traditions converge in Kenya, making it a dynamic and vibrant place to visit and experience.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

The Summer II practicum centers on structured, collaborative engagement within professional settings. Students work in small teams alongside local professionals and peers, contributing to defined projects that address health-related priorities identified by host organizations. This approach ensures that learning is grounded in real organizational contexts and guided by local expertise.

Placements are intentionally designed to emphasize professional responsibility and applied learning. Students engage with organizational workflows, timelines, and expectations, gaining experience in navigating workplace norms while contributing to team-based project outcomes. Faculty oversight and host organization mentorship provide consistent guidance and support throughout the practicum.
Weekly colloquiums and reflection sessions allow students to step back from day-to-day project work and critically examine ethical considerations, teamwork, and cross-cultural dynamics. These sessions help students situate their practicum experiences within broader global health systems and reflect on their evolving professional identity.

The practicum concludes with a formal presentation and comprehensive written report, requiring students to articulate their learning, project contributions, and reflections in a professional and academic format. This final synthesis strengthens students' ability to translate field-based experience into future academic, career, or graduate study pathways in global health and related fields.
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HOUSING & MEALS

The program includes 4 weeks in Kenya. For this time, GEI Kenya offers different housing options that students can choose from, pending availability. These include:
  • Homestays: Typically single rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
  • Serviced apartments: Single or shared double rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
  • University residence halls at our local partner universities: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities
  • Simple guesthouses: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities


Homestay host families typically provide breakfast and dinner. Students in serviced apartments, university residence halls, or guesthouses are usually responsible for all meals outside of core course meals.

You can find additional information in the following blog post: Accommodation – What to expect.

DATES, FEES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Program Dates

Application Due Date

Fees

Summer 2026 (4 weeks): June 27-July 24

April 1, 2026

Summer 2026: US $3,950 (4 weeks)

At GEI, we strongly believe in equal access to academic opportunities in study abroad. In order to help eliminate financial barriers, we offer a variety of merit scholarships, trailblazer scholarships, and opportunity scholarships and grants, ranging from $500 to full tuition awards. Each year, GEI is awarding several hundred thousand dollars in scholarships. You can find further information as well as additional resources for external funding opportunities in the following blog post: Scholarships & Grants.

INSTRUCTORS & COORDINATORS

Meet our core team

All of our instructors and coordinators are highly experienced and resourceful professionals.
Waleed Fatth, MPH
Program Director
Francoise Uzamukunda, MA
Academic Director, East Africa
Thuy Phan, MA
Academic Director, Vietnam
Chone Chaowai, MIDP
Academic Director, Thailand
Kari Cousins, MA/MSc
Academic Director, Southern Africa
Yvan Rubengebenge
Operations Manager, Rwanda
Eric Kingoina, DCS
Operations Manager, Kenya
Dang Huynh, BA
Operations, Vietnam
Denyse Iradukunda, BA
Operations, Rwanda
Sammy Davies Mochama, BSc
Operations, Kenya
Mabwe Gwamure, BSc
Operations, South Africa

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