Summer of Sanitation: interview with Liz Shames (May-August 2007)
What makes a student from Duke University (USA) decides to come and do an internship at WSSCC in Geneva?
My degree program requires a summer internship between the two academic years. Many of the students in the MPP program stay in the US, but for those who are interested in global public policy or international development, the Public Policy Institute at Duke offers a program in Global Governance and Policy in Geneva. The program combines class work in one of four policy fields (health, trade, humanitarian assistance or the environment and sustainable development) and a summer internship.
Of the internships available, the one offered by WSSCC seemed to be the best fit for my career interests, as I'd like to pursue working in advocacy and communication. I'm also interested in the gap between relief and development as a policy issue, and water and sanitation come up as top priorities in both humanitarian assistance efforts and in development initiatives, so, overall, WSSCC was the best fit for me both professionally and academically.
What were your main projects to worked on within WSSCC?
A lot of writing! I worked on the creation of the new WSSCC brochure, the Women Leaders for WASH initiative, and the WASH Media Awards. In addition, I got to write some copy for the website, and do some general writing and editing for conference materials and other projects. I really enjoyed the different kinds of communications projects, as they were a creative way to use the writing skills learned through my undergraduate English Literature degree!
What messages will you take back with you to your fellow study colleagues?
I'm now converted to the importance of water and sanitation as the cornerstone to social and economic development. It crosses so many policy areas - from health to education and gender issues. I'm making it my personal task to get everyone I know as interested in the issue as I am. On a more serious note, I think that talking about water, but especially sanitation, in an academic environment is an important part of making sure that students get a very practical view of development issues and concerns.
Any message to our members and partners?
Keep up the good work! WASH might not be the most glamorous subject, but the number of people who benefit from the work done by WSSCC members and partners makes it worthwhile. As a friend of mine put it, "'Latrines' maybe not be the prettiest word to drop into conversation, but 'poverty' and 'suffering' are much uglier."