Workplace challenges of the international practicum: Problem solver versus capacity builder

From the start, I knew there would be cross-cultural challenges in South Africa. The racial turmoil of the country's bitter past meant that being a white person working in a black township would not be easy. For this conference, I would like to address one of the workplace challenges of conducting an international practicum in a developing country. As MPH students, we come from intellectual arenas, where health policies and research statistics are casually discussed. But in the field, it would be rare to have a domestic co-worker with the same level of expertise. Therefore, you must accept that while you may know a great deal of health theory, the domestic staff has the local knowledge. This can play out in a number of ways. In my case, my South African co-workers would defer big issues and responsibilities to me. While great for my personal and professional development, I knew in the long run it was making the organization weaker. In the past few months, I have played less of a problem solver role, and more of a capacity builder, all the while trying to eradicate the “white is right” mindset. I can already see my contributions to the sustainability of the program far outweigh anything I could do while on the ground. I strongly believe the international practicum provides invaluable experience, forcing you to constantly both affirm and question what you learned in class. This analytical outlook is crucial for a successful career in public health.