Elviyanti Martini, Heinz Fellow AY2008-09
 |
| Elviyanti Martini |
Former Heinz Fellow Elviyanti Martini of Indonesia never lives anywhere other than Jakarta for more than one month at a time. But when the opportunity arose in AY2009, she came to Pitt for a year to study at the Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) through the Heinz Fellowship Program. Before coming to Pittsburgh, Ms. Martini had earned a Master’s Degree in Tropical Medicine and Public Health and had worked 12 years for Helen Keller International (HKI), a non-governmental organization dedicated to preventing the causes and consequences of blindness and malnutrition in disadvantaged communities.
“I enjoyed the courses at the GSPH and learned a lot about global health and emergency practices. It (Heinz Fellowship) has broadened my perspective on how I see things in general; has made me more confident to continue pursuing educational opportunities to further the positive impact on my career; and has helped me to become a better person,” Ms. Martini stated. She enjoyed volunteering for the Community Food Bank in Pittsburgh, and is now exploring options for volunteering in Jakarta.
After returning to Indonesia, Ms. Martini resumed her position as the Health and Nutrition Program Director at HKI until 2010, when she began working for the United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP) as a Program Officer. She contributed to the UNWFP’s increased emphasis on the importance of nutrition, which includes its Ten-Year Strategy for the Reduction of Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies. Ms. Martini has spoken at numerous international conferences around the world (Ethiopia, Senegal, Thailand, Turkey) and has authored publications on child and maternal health and nutrition. In 2013, she was promoted to head the nutrition unit.
“My experience as a Heinz Fellow has made a major impact on my life,” Ms. Martini stated. “It gave me time to reflect on my work from the past 14 years and to rethink my future career goals. Now I am even surer of my path in nutrition as a means of helping less fortunate children. By making sure they have the right food at the right time, these children can lead healthy lives and grow to their full potential.”