With great enthusiasm, Team Liberia I has passed on the baton to the newest members of Team Liberia II. Already hitting the ground running in Monrovia, Team Liberia II comprises a group of twelve energetic interns from both the MPA/International Development and MPP programs at the Harvard Kennedy School.
I am particularly thrilled that three tremendously talented students from the MPA/ID program will follow in my footsteps and are working this summer in the Ministry of Finance: Preya Sharma in Minister Sayeh's office, Diane Mak with Minister Tamba in Revenue, and Conchita Galdon with Minister Smith in Expenditure. Both Diane and Preya are writing blogs about their summer experiences, which I am eagerly following from Washington.
The additional internships of Team Liberia II span several other ministries, including:
- David Zimmer in the Ministry of Justice
- Laura Bacon in the Ministry of Gender (see her great blog)
- Claire Applegarth in the Ministry of State
- Jeremy Fisher, Shireen Santoshman and Inigo Verduzco in Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Kaleb Tamiru in the Ministry of Health
- Tamara Heimur in the Liberia Reconstruction and Development Committee
- Anna in the Ministry of Education
I wish Team Liberia II all the best of luck as they endeavor to support and learn from the Liberian government. It is my hope that the newest members of Team Liberia II will find as much meaning, unparalleled insight, and dear friendships from their experience as did their predecessors.
I would also like to express my gratitude for the many individuals who helped make these internships possible, particularly:
- Nancy Germeshausan Klavans, whose funding through the Women and Public Policy Program at the Kennedy School is sponsoring three current interns;
- Carol Finney of the MPA/ID program for her dedicated help in raising funds for Team Liberia II
- Steve Radelet of the Center for Global Development for his continued leadership and support for Team Liberia;
- Amara Konneh, recent KSG graduate and former deputy chief of staff for President Sirleaf, for his exceptional leadership and commitment to making the KSG-Liberia partnership successful and sustainable;
- Rupert Simons and Emily Stanger, for their enthusiastic assistance and invaluable advice;
- Dan Honig and Conor Hartman, for their instrumental help from Monrovia.
