Earlier this year, I was fortunate, and very excited to be accepted to a summer internship program in Kabul, Afghanistan. My work would be at the Afghani Ministry of Health to provide support for their initiatives and help develop capacity within the ministry. Unfortunately, the recent riots in Kabul ocurred a day before I was scheduled to depart from the US at the end of May, which forced the ministry to cancel the internship. Although disappointing, this was a relief to my family, my friends and me, that this happened while I was still at home rather than in Kabul. Everything happens for the best and life has a way of working out in the end :)

Since then, I have been hunting and pecking to get another summer internship or some opportunity where I would be able to fulfill the practicum requirement for my master's degree. Less than a week ago, I was accepted to a volunteer internship program in Pakistan through Impak (www.impak.org). The focus of the program this summer is providing relief and support for the earthquake victims in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Specifically, I will be working in the health sector with a US-based NGO called Operation Heartbeat (www.operationheartbeat.org) in a small town, Garhi Dupatta. They were providing medical emergency care and relief and they're moving into the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase. Their projects include training medical professionals, conducting mental & physical health education sessions with the local population at the clinics and schools and establishing a permanent hospital and sustaibable medical services.

Life does have a way of working out! I am going to be working with a wonderful group of volunteers from the US, UK and Canada this summer. I am excited about being back in Pakistan (haven't been back for sixteen years) and meeting the most amazing people and hearing their stories. I would be lying if I said that I'm not nervous, however, most of that apprehension is due to thinking that something might happen which causes this internship to be cancelled also. I'm a day away from my departure for Pakistan... lets wait and see :)

Garhi Dupatta doesn't have cell phone coverage, no internet access and virtually no land-line phones. I believe the closest place to "connect" with the outside world is in Muzaffarabad which is thirty mintues away. I am going to try to maintain this blog and share pictures and stories as regularly as possible. Inshallah (god-willing), this is going to be a summer to remember.