Week 6: Celebrations with Sweet Gulab Jamun

Week 6: Celebrations with Sweet Gulab Jamun
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As I wrap up my final week at Sangath, it’s surreal to think how quickly time has flown by. It feels like just yesterday I was navigating my housing issues and meeting the research team for the first time. My last week was as dynamic and fulfilling as my entire internship, reflecting the diverse range of experiences I’ve had here.

The week began with the culmination of my work on the scoping review and the public engagement strategy. I put together a polished presentation deck and had the opportunity to present it to my PI and the directors of the It's Ok to Talk campaign. Their feedback was invaluable, offering new perspectives and suggestions that will help realign the campaign goals. I was particularly pleased with the positive reception of my work, which was a testament to the effort and thought I had invested.

In addition, I had meaningful discussions with community-based organizations like Youth for Mental Health. Involving them early in the planning and execution stages of the campaign was crucial for ensuring that the initiative resonates with its target audience. My supervisor noted how much more confident and enthusiastic I had become about the campaign compared to my initial hesitance. It was a poignant reminder that, while I may not see the final execution of the ideas I’ve helped shape, my contributions have laid a solid foundation for future success.

Another highlight of the week was completing the final leg of recruitment for the cognitive interviews. Meeting the last targets for participant recruitment was a significant achievement and marked the transition to the next phase of the research project.

I also revisited the analysis of the Baatcheet data, which had been on hold due to my coworker’s absence. Delving back into the analysis with patience, I learned more about data processing and achieving consensus in a collaborative setting. Although I wished for more time to explore the quantitative aspects in depth, I was satisfied with the insights I gained and the progress we made.

The second co-design workshop was another major event of the week. It went smoothly, providing valuable feedback from participants and reinforcing my growing confidence in oral communication. Facilitating this workshop allowed me to witness firsthand the impact of community-based participatory research. It was invigorating to see how our collaborative efforts were shaping the intervention and how participant feedback was being integrated into the project.

The week concluded with a presentation to the entire Sangath team, where I shared my accomplishments and reflections from the past six weeks. The positive feedback I received was heartening, especially given that most interns stay for twelve weeks. The praise for the quality and effort of my work was a gratifying end to my internship.

As a personal practice, I like to hand out handwritten thank-you cards to my coworkers, expressing my gratitude for the experiences and relationships I had built. To my surprise, I too was gifted jewelry and sweets. Sharing the gulab jamun with my peers was a joyful moment, a sweet end to a rewarding journey.

Throughout this internship, I had the chance to work on a wide range of projects—recruitment, facilitation, knowledge translation, and more. Each task contributed to my growth and understanding of mental health in a cultural context. I feel deeply appreciative of the opportunities I had and the connections I made with the PI, the research team, and the broader Sangath community. The experience has enriched my understanding and reinforced my passion for working in the field of mental health. 

As I say goodbye to Sangath, I carry with me a wealth of knowledge, invaluable skills in leadership and collaboration, and cherished memories. The internship has been a privilege, and I am profoundly grateful for the experience and the people I had the chance to work with.




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