Meet the 2025 Summer GROW Interns

This week, six grassroots on-site work (GROW) interns have been welcomed to Mumias by the WOPLAH team. These interns, all of whom attend Colorado College, have been fortunate enough to travel to Kenya through a partnership between the college's Public and Global Health Club and WOPLAH. This is the second year that interns have been able to be on the ground in Kenya; the COVID-19 pandemic had previously meant that interns worked virtually. We are so grateful to be here! 

Each intern is incredibly excited to learn and help as much as possible in their time here. We will be researching potential partnerships and grant opportunities to support WOPLAH, managing website and social media platforms, engaging with the community, working on the farm, and doing everything we can to support the sustainable and empowering methods that foster the community we have been so kindly welcomed into. 

We come with various backgrounds and interests, but with a common appreciation for WOPLAH’s mission and vision to address health inequities. Read the bios below to get to know the 2025 GROW interns!

Interns at the WOPLAH clinic and office

Ben Murphy

Hi, my name is Ben. I graduated from Colorado College this year with a Bachelor of Arts in Business, Economics, and Society. I am from Seattle, Washington, and enjoy reading history books, hiking, and cooking in my free time. I am thrilled to be working with WOPLAH through the GROW internship. I am eager to learn about the important work WOPLAH does and strengthen my understanding of how organizations function, promote sustainable and inclusive economic development, and overcome challenges.

Leila Campbell

Hi my name is Leila! I am an incoming junior at Colorado College majoring in Business, Economics & Societies. I'm from Texas and am so excited to be here in Mumias, Kenya for the next 8 weeks! I love dancing (especially line dancing), swimming, running and trying new things. I'm interested in the intersection of business and public health and can't wait to learn more and get involved with this amazing organization!

Trevor Weiss

Hello! My name is Trevor, and I am a rising sophomore at Colorado College studying neuroscience. I'm originally from a small town in western Massachusetts and have always loved being outside—whether that’s skiing, hiking, or anything in between. I'm especially excited to keep exploring how science can be used to support well-being in real-world settings. That’s one of the many reasons I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with WOPLAH. Their grassroots, community-focused approach really resonates with me, and I’m eager to learn more about how they operate and how I can contribute in a meaningful way. I’m looking forward to gaining hands-on experience, building meaningful connections, and being part of a team that creates real, positive change. I’m excited for the journey ahead!

Brittany Wei

Hi everyone! My name is Brittany, and I’m a sophomore at Colorado College majoring in Mathematical Economics and considering a minor in Political Science. I’m originally from Shanghai, China, and I love exploring new cultures, trying local foods, and making new friends.

This summer, I’m excited to be working with WOPLAH in Mumias, Kenya, through the GROW internship. I’m especially interested in learning how grassroots organizations like WOPLAH promote sustainable change in public health and economic empowerment. I’m looking forward to growing alongside the community here, gaining hands-on experience, and contributing however I can. Can't wait to learn more Swahili and make meaningful connections along the way!

Leah Rubner

Hello, my name is Leah Rubner, and I’m an upcoming junior at Colorado College. I’m majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and minoring in Global Health. In my free time, I love being outside, painting, and reading. I also really enjoy learning new things and exploring new places. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to learn about grassroots methods to approach community health. I hope to eventually work in a way that helps address health inequities across the world. I appreciate WOPLAH’s dedication to community empowerment and hope to learn and help however I can. 

Fatima Barry

Jambo, Hello! My name is Fatima Barry, and I am a rising sophomore at Colorado College, where I am majoring in Neuroscience and considering a minor in Global Health. I was born in Guinea, raised in Sierra Leone, and later moved to the United States, specifically Arizona, which has given me a unique perspective that shapes how I view community and healthcare. At Colorado College, I am a Bonner Fellow, which allows me to work with local nonprofit organizations. Most recently, I’ve been partnered with Lutheran Family Services, where I help refugees resettle and build new lives in Colorado Springs. That experience has strengthened my passion for public service, and I’m excited to bring those skills to WOPLAH. In my free time, I love traveling, studying Islam, discovering new cafes, and spending time in nature. I chose to become a GROW intern because of my interest in global public health, and I wanted to explore what community-based initiatives look like in practice and what it truly means to “help” someone. I’m looking forward to learning from WOPLAH’s incredible initiatives, picking up some Swahili along the way, and seeing if this path is something I’d like to pursue in my future career.