Valeria Churango is a second-year MPA/ID student at Harvard Kennedy School. She was accepted into the Growth Lab’s 2024 Summer Internship program and contributed to the ongoing project in Morocco.
Why did you apply?
I applied to the Growth Lab’s summer internship because it was a great opportunity to apply my analytical skills in a new environment. The chance to explore labor dynamics in Morocco, especially focusing on the challenges related to female labor force participation, aligned perfectly with my interests. Plus, the opportunity to practice my French while working on this project during the summer made the experience even more appealing.
What did you work on?
During my internship in Rabat, I focused on diagnosing the structural constraints in Morocco’s labor market, such as informality and female participation. My role involved data analysis and programming, where I applied my coding skills to uncover these constraints. It was an intensive dive into the data, but it also gave me insights into the real-world implications of these issues.
In what ways were you challenged?
As someone from Peru, adapting to a new environment was my first challenge, especially since it was my first time in a MENA country. Learning about the local traditions and social norms was fascinating, but it also meant stepping out of my comfort zone. On top of that, I had to improve my R coding skills to manage the data processing tasks.
What was your most exciting/surprising experience?
One of the highlights of my internship was conducting qualitative analysis for the first time. We interviewed locals to understand how labor market dynamics work in Morocco. This added a new dimension to my work and helped me see the bigger picture. It was exciting to combine this qualitative approach with the quantitative data I was analyzing.
What advice would you give future Growth Lab interns/RAs?
Make the most of your time by exploring the city (and the country) and connecting with locals. Spending ten weeks in a different environment offers insights that data alone cannot provide. Also, this internship is a great opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and practice, allowing you to apply the skills learned in class to real-world challenges.
What’s next for you?
As I return to HKS for the second year of the MPA/ID program, I am excited to continue building on the knowledge and skills I developed during my internship. My experience at the Growth Lab has deepened my interest in labor dynamics and the challenges women face in the workforce, and I am eager to continue exploring these areas.
