Sheridan was an intern for NuSkin/SAFI during Spring 2024.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
I surveyed women and men throughout different districts all over Malawi to determine the impact VitaMeal, a supplemental porridge, has on children's health and the community. I also surveyed women and men on what they have learned about nutrition from an NGO company and what they are eating now in their diet. The result of my experience was finding how impactful Feed the Children and SAFI are as NGOs in changing lives. VitaMeal has transformed communities, and nutrition education from SAFI has also changed the health and lives of individuals and communities. The first-hand accounts I collected are precious evidence of how well created and implemented NGOs can change lives and help with international development.
What did you learn in your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I didn't expect to learn so much about creating a company that is successful in making change happen. Going into my internship I thought I would learn about the research I was completing and nothing else. I'm very grateful for all I have seen and experienced in regards to international development.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
I am going to be looking into what opportunities there are for dietitians to work in an international development area. I had never considered pursuing a career in that regard before this internship.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
I had some incredible spiritual experiences while in Malawi. Some of the most impactful experiences were recognizing how strongly God cares about all of His children. I felt often an overwhelming sense of how we are all children of God and how much He loves each of us around the world. I was also reminded of why I want to pursue a career in helping others, and I look forward to seeking further personal revelation for which direction God wants me to go in my future career.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
Yes, it is a great opportunity to learn from very successful NGOs.
Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your internship?
It was an amazing experience and I highly recommend doing an internship outside of the United States.
