Experiential Learning Student Profile: Jenna Mulji

Jenna Mulji

Tell us about your practicum experience and the work you did there.

I worked at Action for Healthy Communities (A4HC), a not-for-profit organization in Edmonton
that aims to support newcomer immigrants and refugees by providing access to various services. I was a program assistant for the Health Literacy for Newcomers Program, which aims to increase access to health information and knowledge for individuals who recently moved to Canada. I took part in outreach to various health professionals and organizations and had the opportunity to facilitate and lead
many of the health-literacy sessions that were conducted.

I loved my practicum experience primarily because I was able to interact with newcomers directly and work creatively to address their needs! I find that there are many public health positions that are removed from the populations they are aiming to serve. I appreciated the direct interaction I had with people from diverse backgrounds.

What skills and experiences did you gain?

Working with Action for Healthy Communities was a great experience because I was able to apply the skills and knowledge I gained from my degree directly to the work I was doing! I had the opportunity to engage with project planning, implementation and evaluation throughout my practicum experience, and was able to interact with so many different organizations and health experts from around Edmonton. I also gained many skills in working with individuals from various cultural backgrounds and countries and navigated topics such as mental and emotional health that may manifest differently in different cultures.

Working directly with newcomers in a field I am very passionate about taught me so much about the impact accessible information and education can have on the lives of not only participants but their families and communities as well. Those participating in the program would often share the information with their friends and family, creating a ripple effect of information being shared. Overall, I found my practicum experience very holistic and felt that I could make a difference in the lives of those I was engaging with!

How do you feel this experience helped your career move forward?

It allowed me to recognize what I was passionate about in a future career and improved my skills in cross-cultural dialogue and communication. Currently, I am working in Kenya with Aga Khan Hospital to increase health access for those living in rural areas of western Kenya. While my current role is in a different country, the skills I gained from working with individuals of various backgrounds and navigating language barriers remain relevant in my current experiences and helped me feel more confident in engaging in this new environment. I also learned so much about project implementation, which is a primary responsibility I have in my current role.

Furthermore, my role with A4HC inspired the creation of a health literacy program for older adults in marginalized communities, a program I am currently working on within Sunshine Connected, a not-for-profit in Canada that aims to decrease social isolation in older adults. The skills — both technical and interpersonal — that I gained through this experience have allowed me to adapt well to my current role and informed the creative and volunteer projects I take
on.

Learn more about Experiential Learning options in the School of Public Health here.