Bioinstrumentation in Rwanda!

Amanda Gibbens Start Date: Feb 21, 2018 - End Date: May 31, 2018
  • Intern Abroad
  • Professional Development
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Kigali, Rwanda

My Travel Story

by: Amanda Gibbens Start Date: Feb 21, 2018 - End Date: May 31, 2018
  • Intern Abroad
  • Professional Development
  • Study/Degree Abroad
Howdy, and thank you for visiting my fundraiser campaign!

I am excited to announce that I have been accepted to embark on a Study Abroad trip to Rwanda this Summer! I ask for your support so that I can provide much needed medical equipment repair and develop devices and technologies to help the developing communities in Rwanda. Your donation will go towards travel expenses and technical and cultural training which counts as course credit. Donating even the smallest amount can help me achieve this goal!

Here’s some info about the Trip!

I will be spending a full 2 months in Rwanda, from June to August, participating in a unique program which acts as a study abroad, mission trip, and internship ALL in one! The first month will consist of technical and cultural training, learning how to fix broken medical equipment and speak Kinyarwanda (the local dialect). With these skills in hand, I then spend the second month volunteering in a hospital by repairing medical equipment, collaborating with trained professionals, and even teaching hospital staff. In culmination, I also get to work on my own design project which will address a critical need and improve the lives of the local community. 

What has drawn me to this exciting program is my experience as an Undergraduate Researcher in the Optical Bio-Sensing Laboratory here at Texas A&M. One year ago, I joined this laboratory with no indication that it would turn out to be the defining influence on my career goals and passion! The project I have since worked on is the development of a point-of-care device for Malaria diagnosis in underdeveloped countries (like Rwanda!). Through my work on this project, I have gained a much greater appreciation for the access to modern health-care services I have in the United States. What I have come to learn is that the lack of resources available to solve problems in developing countries can be accounted for with a little creativity and engineering! In Rwanda, I hope to gain a more immersive experience by applying my creative and problem-solving skills, and am excited to further my passion and drive to pursue health care technology in underdeveloped areas. This ability to explore an entirely different culture and means of technical training is one that both excites and inspires me in the field of bioinstrumentation.

Your contribution is very much appreciated and will greatly help me fund this trip!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call, message, or email me.

Thanks and Gig'Em!
Amanda
  • Kigali, Rwanda

Updates

1
  • Airborne!

    Airborne!
    Here's a picture of me airborne. Why, you may ask? Well to post in celebration of my flight to Rwanda of course! The flight includes stops in Amsterdam and Atlanta, which are also new places for me. I can't wait!