On Tuesday in an office tucked around the corner from Trafalgar Square, I commence my first day at Refuge Network International. The NGO is centered around empowering individuals and communities through the promotion of social and economic rights (ESR). I am buzzing with excitement to finally meet with Charles Gimoh- the NGO's CEO. Charles is warm and welcoming and we sit down to discuss my role in the organization for the next six weeks. Upon learning more about the NGO's operation in the London branch- I am excited to learn I will help lease and coordinate outreach event's with our corporate volunteers. This will involve preparing hot food, toiletries, and letters of encouragement for our beneficiaries- the homeless in the Covent Garden area. Additionally, I will be in charge of producing, filming, and editing, a series of video training manuals for our team in Nigeria. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I hope to bring a unique cross-atlantic perspective to my work and create a lasting impact in the following weeks.

I can't wait to get started!