Anja Schmidt

Why did you choose to study the MSc Water, Sanitation and Health Engineering at the University of Leeds?

I wanted to deepen my knowledge in WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) but at the same time I was (and still am) very interested in Health. Leeds Uni was the only place I could find that offered that combination.

What has been the best aspect of your masters course and the University, and why?

I really liked that the course was not too big (we were only 13) and that everybody could profit from the work experience of my classmates. I loved that the lecturers gave us the opportunity to share the knowledge of our respective fields. Instead of just following a lecture plan, the students became part of the learning experience.

Tell us about the project you have been working on:

For my dissertation I had the opportunity to go to Germany to talk to refugees. I interviewed them about the ways they managed their menstruation while they were fleeing from their home country to Germany and I am trying to find gaps in the way the topic (if at all) is handled in an emergency response.

What are your ambitions for the future?

I want to work in the WASH sector with a focus either on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) or the provision and promotion of sanitation facilities to people who don't have them.

What experiences at Leeds do you think will help you in your future career?

I think that I learned that in order to solve a problem, you don't have to reinvent the wheel. There might already be a solution out there that you just have to adapt to the circumstance you work in.