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I would like to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to Ms. Martine Vanasse and Mr. Randall Wilbert for their generous support through the Vanasse Wilbert International Experience Internship Award, which made my summer internship at Angkor Hospital for Children (AHC) in Siem Reap, Cambodia, possible. As a student in Hispanic Studies, Political Science and Communication Studies, I have always been passionate about global health equity, nonprofit strategy, and cross-cultural collaboration. The opportunity to intern with AHC was a perfect convergence of my academic interests and my desire to contribute meaningfully in an international context.

My background is shaped by my Colombian heritage, my upbringing in France, and my studies at 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ. Early experiences, such as a geopolitical course in high school and an internship in an international key technology partner and enabler for the fashion industry on the communication team, as well as a experience in an organization for children in Colombia, inspired my interest in how effective communication can drive positive change. This multicultural perspective and commitment to social impact motivated me to apply for the Vanasse Wilbert International Experience Internship Award and seek opportunities abroad where I could broaden my understanding of global development work. 

Starting by presenting the hospital, we can present Angkor Hospital for Children as a leading nongovernmental organization dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate healthcare to underserved children in Cambodia. The hospital serves over 450 children daily and is staffed by a team of 400 professionals, including doctors, nurses, and health workers. Its mission is to ensure equitable pediatric care regardless of a family’s ability to pay and to train local professionals, strengthening pediatric health capacity throughout the region. AHC also runs a robust fundraising program aimed at sustaining daily operations and growing an Endowment Fund to secure long-term sustainability and resilience.

During my 10-week internship, I joined the Fundraising Department, splitting my time between Siem Reap and remote work. My primary responsibility was to support AHC’s international fundraising strategy by identifying prospective donors for the Endowment Fund and key hospital units, such as the Optometry Center and Neonatal Clinic. Using platforms like CauseIQ and Salesforce, I created several detailed Excel spreadsheets profiling potential donor organizations in the United States. These lists included data on donor type, annual giving capacity, contact information, and relevant leadership contacts. By streamlining prospect research and tracking, my work enabled the team to prioritize outreach and strengthen donor engagement efforts.

On-site, I worked directly with a diverse group of fundraising professionals, learning both about Cambodian workplace culture and the operational demands of a nonprofit hospital. I regularly submitted drafts and donor profiles for review, received feedback from my mentors, and collaborated with staff on crafting proposals to targeted foundations. I also participated in a range of impactful activities beyond my core responsibilities, including leading the marathon publicity campaign photoshoot at Angkor Wat, taking part in an outreach session at a rural community center where the Angkor Hospital for Children team delivered educational programs to local students, meeting with the CEO of the hospital to discuss fundraising strategies, donating my own blood to support the pediatric cancer ward, and connecting directly with both cancer patients and newborn premature babies. The experience of working on location, observing hospital rounds, meeting with doctors and patients, and attending weekly team meetings gave me invaluable insight into the real-world impact of effective fundraising for global health initiatives.

Moreover, I can highlight a memorable moment during my internship, which was when I presented and explained a prospecting strategy after studying the platform CauseIQ, fundraiso and GrantStation which was later taken into account and used for the new fundraising strategy. I was proud to see my work and researched being used to enhance AHC’s long-term fundraising capability. The genuine warmth of my colleagues, both in Cambodia and during virtual check-ins, was inspiring and fostered an atmosphere of mutual learning and growth.

One challenge I faced was adapting to the pace of remote collaboration across time zones and cultural contexts, as I first started to work remotely. Through frequent communication and openness to feedback, I learned to navigate these differences and maintain consistent progress toward our goals.

While I did not receive academic credit for this internship, I could definitely say that my coursework in Political Science and Communication Studies have proved instrumental throughout this internship. Indeed, analytical skills from Political Science helped me evaluate philanthropic organizations’ priorities, while communication theory informed my approach to drafting clear, persuasive proposals. This intersection of research and outreach underscored how academic knowledge translates directly into nonprofit impact.

Indeed, the experience directly informed my research on the intersections of nonprofit communications, global health, and sustainable development.

I am grateful to my supervisor, Mr. Paul Bamatter, for his mentorship and regular feedback, and to the entire fundraising team for welcoming me wholeheartedly. This internship has profoundly influenced my future academic and career plans. I now feel better equipped to pursue a career at the intersection of global health, development strategy, and nonprofit management. The support provided by Ms. Martine Vanasse and Mr. Randall Wilbert’s funding of the Vanasse Wilbert International Experience Internship Award allowed me to dedicate myself fully to meaningful, skill-building work that would have otherwise been financially unattainable. I am especially grateful for the chance to contribute to an organization making a tangible impact on children’s lives.