News Advisory - Toronto Resident off to Tanzania

Leaves June 11 for six-month internship with health charity

TORONTO, June 5, 2013 /CNW/ - A resident of the Leaside area of Toronto will be spending six months in Tanzania interning with the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF). Heidi Parker is one of 10 young Canadians heading out on an internship with AMREF, supported by the Canadian International Development Agency.  Heidi's work will focus on improving the health of mothers, children and youth.

Heidi leaves Canada on June 11, 2013 and will return in December. She chose an internship with AMREF because of her interest in improving health, and AMREF's work with communities to make change from within.

"During my undergraduate experience at Queen's University I became involved with an organization where I was given the opportunity to travel to Kenya and teach in high schools around Nairobi about various health issues. From that point on, I had a strong desire to return to East Africa to do similar work," says Heidi.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Speak to Heidi about what has inspired her to spend six months in Tanzania focused on improving the health of mothers, children and young people. Find out what challenges she expects to face, and how she'll adapt to living in a new culture. Heidi is available for interviews before she leaves Canada on June 11, 2013, during her six months in Tanzania or upon her return to Canada in December 2013.

About AMREF www.amrefcanada.org; @AMREFCanada): The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) works with communities to improve Africans' health. African-based and African-led, AMREF is a global organization with intimate first-hand knowledge of the health challenges facing African communities. With more than 55 years of experience we are a recognized global leader in African health, having won both the Bill and Melinda Gates Award for Global Health and the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize.

SOURCE: AMREF Canada (African Medical and Research Foundation)

For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Jennifer Foulds, AMREF Canada, [phone]; [phone] (cell)