Name: Keziah Keya
Class Year: 2027
Majors: Mathematics and Computer Science
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
Internship Organization: Laɣim Tehi Tuma Fellowship Program
Internship Title: Simli Radio intern
Location: Dalun, Ghana
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
I co-hosted community engagement sessions twice a week at Simli Radio, a community radio station partnering with LTT. These sessions focused on various local issues such as sanitation and climate change. My favorite session was when we hosted local female farmers to share their experiences and encouraged active participation from community members on their plight. It was great to listen in on all the calls that our listeners made to share their views.
I also worked on my inquiry research project, which aimed to promote civic engagement among the youth using social media and radio. Additionally, I immersed myself in the local culture by learning two Dagbani dances and taking weekly language lessons. One of my summer highlights was attending a fire festival, a first for any LTT fellowship, and receiving a kola nut from the chief, symbolizing his blessings for our work and stay in Dalun.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I wanted to give back to an African country after spending my first year away from the continent. Immersing myself in the culture and ways of life in Dalun, Ghana, was a significant part of my motivation. The program's themes of Pan-Africanism and Ubuntu deeply resonated with me, aligning with my academic interests and personal passion for social change. Additionally, I applied for this internship to gain practical experience in community engagement and I am happy I had the chance to conduct research on promoting civic engagement among the youth.
Was there anything special about how you found this internship?
I found the internship through Patriciah Ogombe '24 and Valencia Ngunjiri '26 who are past fellows of the program. Listening to them speak of how impactful the experience was for them moved me, as Patriciah did the program online and Valencia in person. Their unique perspectives fueled my quest to get into the LTT program.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
My favorite part was the people I met in the internship. It was incredibly rewarding to be immersed into a variety of cultures and traditions from engaging with people, including fellows, mentors, and community members. I also cherished the cultural experiences, especially learning the local dances and attending the fire festival. These experiences deepened my appreciation for the Dagwomba culture and helped me build strong relationships with the local people.
The best part, however, was doing the internship with my roommate Purity Wanjiku '27, who was also my roommate in Ghana. It was a lovely time, and we shared many memorable moments together. We also made trips to learn about the history of slavery and visited national parks. One of the highlights was getting really close to my favorite animal, the wild African elephant.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn't expect?
I didn't expect to learn so much about the power of traditional media like radio in fostering community engagement. Seeing firsthand how radio can be used to bring people together and promote important discussions was eye-opening. I also learned the importance of cultural sensitivity and the deep-rooted traditions and respect for leadership in the community.
Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?
I learned skills in community engagement, research, and cultural competency. These skills are crucial for my future career in technology, as they enhance my ability to connect with diverse groups, understand their needs, and develop solutions that are culturally relevant and effective.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?
I had a challenge with narrowing down my research work to something very specific. However, we had a great session with Dr Chanelle Wilson that was very helpful in identifying exactly what I wanted to do. It was an interactive session with other fellows and at the same time required personal reflection to come up with an inquiry question that summarized my topic.
Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
Transformative
Collaborative
Engaging
What is most rewarding about your internship?
We had weekly checkins as part of the program to reflect on our week. I enjoyed the very last checkin as we all shared our experiences throughout the program. It was incredible to listen to the many good things we all had experienced and found the lessons we had learned together and how strong we had connected and bonded in such a short time.
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
It was more than what I expected it to be. All the people I met and connections I made. I started out by sharing my wish to join LTT with Alice Lesnick at a career fair on campus and it grew to be an enriching experience worthy to be remembered for life.
Career & Civic Engagement Mathematics Computer Science