Meet Malika Knapp: CLAN Community Development Intern and NCP Scholar
2026
Tell me a bit about yourself.
My name is Malika Knapp and I am in my final-year at the Australian National University studying a double degree in Medical Science and International Relations. I am a 2026 New Colombo Plan Scholar to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Under this scholarship, I have interned at CARE International in Jakarta (an international health and development NGO), as well as at CLAN. During my time with CLAN, I have had placements at both YKAG (the Global Child Health Foundation), as well as at the Indonesian Ministry of Health. My main interest is in global health, with a particular interest in maternal and child health in the Asia-Pacific.
What were your key deliverables from your internship?
My key deliverable was to write a report for the Indonesian Ministry of Health on identifying the challenges to confirmatory testing for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). This involved analysing data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health as well as conducting a consultation and focused group discussion with district health workers from different provinces in Indonesia. Other deliverables included translating CLAN’s newborn screening flyer into Bahasa Indonesia and writing a congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and congenital hypothyroidism (CH) booklet.
What was the most inspiring moment within your work with CLAN?
I had many highlights during my placements with YKAG and the Indonesian Ministry of Health, including attending a number of roundtable discussions with doctors and midwives from across Indonesia, but I think my highlight was meeting with Indonesia’s Minister of Health, Mr. Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
What is your top must-read book?
I have too many, but my top three would be: Sapiens, Educated and Half the Sky
Are there any key skills you developed, or lessons learned from working with CLAN?
I think the biggest skill I developed was stakeholder engagement and cross-cultural communication and collaboration skills. It was such an amazing opportunity being able to work across an Australian NGO (CLAN), an Indonesian NGO (YKAG) and the Indonesian government (at the Ministry of Health).
What are your goals for the future?
I would like to work in the field of global health and development, particularly in the area of maternal and child health, in the Asia-Pacific at an International NGO, an International Organisation like the UN, or for the Australian Government.
2026
Tell me a bit about yourself.
My name is Malika Knapp and I am in my final-year at the Australian National University studying a double degree in Medical Science and International Relations. I am a 2026 New Colombo Plan Scholar to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Under this scholarship, I have interned at CARE International in Jakarta (an international health and development NGO), as well as at CLAN. During my time with CLAN, I have had placements at both YKAG (the Global Child Health Foundation), as well as at the Indonesian Ministry of Health. My main interest is in global health, with a particular interest in maternal and child health in the Asia-Pacific.
What were your key deliverables from your internship?
My key deliverable was to write a report for the Indonesian Ministry of Health on identifying the challenges to confirmatory testing for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). This involved analysing data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health as well as conducting a consultation and focused group discussion with district health workers from different provinces in Indonesia. Other deliverables included translating CLAN’s newborn screening flyer into Bahasa Indonesia and writing a congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and congenital hypothyroidism (CH) booklet.
What was the most inspiring moment within your work with CLAN?
I had many highlights during my placements with YKAG and the Indonesian Ministry of Health, including attending a number of roundtable discussions with doctors and midwives from across Indonesia, but I think my highlight was meeting with Indonesia’s Minister of Health, Mr. Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
What is your top must-read book?
I have too many, but my top three would be: Sapiens, Educated and Half the Sky
Are there any key skills you developed, or lessons learned from working with CLAN?
I think the biggest skill I developed was stakeholder engagement and cross-cultural communication and collaboration skills. It was such an amazing opportunity being able to work across an Australian NGO (CLAN), an Indonesian NGO (YKAG) and the Indonesian government (at the Ministry of Health).
What are your goals for the future?
I would like to work in the field of global health and development, particularly in the area of maternal and child health, in the Asia-Pacific at an International NGO, an International Organisation like the UN, or for the Australian Government.
