This summer Julia Steketee (left) used her French and some Wolof to speak with Senegalese women about health issues in Dakar.
Over the summer, Furniture Design major Julia Steketee 18 FD explored the world of 2D half a world away, flexing her photography and graphic design muscles as an intern at Speak Up Africa in Dakar, Senegal. The organization focuses on advocacy and communication with an emphasis on health-related projects like Zero Malaria Starts with Me.
“A big part of the experience was being a woman on my own in West Africa,” says the native of Atlanta, GA, who learned some Wolof – the local language – while also speaking with locals in French. “People were really friendly and open and wanted to show me how wonderful their country is.”
Steketee’s father works in public health, so when she began looking for summer internships he helped connect her with Speak Up Africa. Through RISD Careers, she learned that she could apply for a Textron Award, which helped to finance the experience. “I wanted to use my design skills in an NGO environment,” Steketee explains, “to help people through design. And I like the fact that Speak Up Africa is run by Senegalese people, giving Africans a voice.”