Meet Lucian: Volunteer in Haiti
Originally from Malaysia, Lucian Lee used to work in the private sector in Singapore for five years, primarily in marketing communications at ABB. Lucian is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration in development practice at Columbia University in New York. He is also a peer counselor at the health clinic of Columbia University.
Lucian spent a semester interning with the emergency preparedness team at the International Rescue Committee (IRC). His experience with IRC allowed him to expand his perspectives in preparing and responding to emergencies, especially in health and cash interventions. Today, Lucian is volunteering in Haiti on a variety of health projects with CMMB, hoping to improve the lives of vulnerable women, children, and their communities. We recently asked Lucian a few questions to get to know him better. Read to find out what Lucian is most proud of, what his hope for the future is, and what song he would like to play every time he walks into a room!
CMMB Volunteer Post: Public Health Specialist in Haiti for three months.
If you were asked to sum yourself up in two words, which two would you choose? Patient and relentless, which somehow makes me sound like a virus!
Why did you choose CMMB? CMMB’s values and focus on strengthening and developing local health systems in areas that do not have equal access to healthcare drew me to CMMB.
What are you most proud of? I am most proud of being a part of the official landing of the Solar Impulse in Southeast Asia during the solar airplane’s first round-the-world flight. This was done in conjunction with an access to solar electricity project with the NGO Pact in Myanmar.
Imagine you are stuck in an elevator. Who would you most like to be stuck with? And why? Gordon Ramsay – I’m hoping he will magically produce lunch out of his pockets. We might as well eat while we wait.
You are featured in the NY Times or your national newspaper. What’s the headline? Lucian Lee: First Malaysian To Land On Mars
What would be your theme song? The Sound by The 1975
What is your hope for your experience volunteering with CMMB? I hope to learn more about the ways to build capacity in public health and if possible pioneer the use of health technologies in Haiti.
What book should everyone read? Why? The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene. It’s amazing how quantum physics and cosmology can be illustrated in simple, visual images and language. I questioned everything about reality after reading it.
What is your hope for the future? 100% renewable energy, 100% recycling rate.
If you could solve one world problem, what would it be? I would solve all the problems in the world by giving people the ability to genuinely feel what each other is feeling – deep empathy will save the world.
Who is your biggest inspiration? Why? Pope Francis, because every time he speaks, I feel like he speaks for all people and all religions.