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Maxwell Yohane | Malawi

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What do you do in your home country and what do you hope to do upon your return? In particular, with the integration of your experiences here?

I am a health rights advocate with a focus and passion relating to health equity and social justice. I am a founder of a government organization called Health Rights Organization, which advocates for both patients and health workers by educating the communities through awareness campaigns and debates of what outcomes are right to lobby for them. This helps us come up with solutions that are effective to improving our health system. Professionally, I am a medical doctor working as a senior medical officer. My job is supervising the medical team as well as dealing with some administrative issues. I act in place of the DHO in their absence.

I believe that this fellowship will deepen my knowledge and develop my skills in the advocacy field. When I go back home, my plan is that I will have my organization start and go and advocate so that we may reach our civic goals.

What is your favorite thing about your home country? How about Philadelphia?

I like the diversity. I also like that we have natural things that are unique to our country, such as Lake Malawi, which has the famous Lake Malawi Chambo, which is a really fantastic fish. We also have Mulanje Mountain. I also love that Malawi is called the warm heart of Africa because the people are always smiling.

My favorite thing about Philadelphia would be meeting my peer collaborator and her intern. People here are so welcoming and legitimately want to help you, connecting you to more and more people who want to help you as well.

Do you have any hobbies or an interesting fact you wish to share about yourself?

My hobbies are I like debates and I love history. I loved the visit to the national constitution center and Independence and learning about it, the introduction that they gave us of “We The People”. I like watching documentary movies and learning about historical events. I also have a passion for law, so I like learning about legal cases.

If I were to come to your home country, what is the first thing I should eat?

There are two things. Nsima is one, it is like a flour made from maize. The other is chambo- the fish that you can find in Lake Malawi.