Simba looks back fondly on his PPE Bachelor “There are many multidisciplinary study programmes to choose from, but most of them aren’t very interdisciplinary. Philosophy, Politics and Economics, however, constantly combines three different disciplines. I enjoyed thinking about economics and politics from a philosophical point of view, as all economic considerations can only be formulated based on philosophical principles. For instance, if you were asked to choose between economic efficiency and economic equality, you can only make a choice based on the kind of society you envision." During his studies he chose the Politics and Economics tracks, and after graduating he noticed that he was still very much interested in both disciplines. "When I started with Economics I already knew that I did not want to work at a bank; I also wanted to do something in the political or social realm. That is why I also did a Master’s in Political Science with a specialization in Public Policy.”
Stages & extracurriculaire activiteiten
In his third year, Simba interned in the United States where he lived nearby Washington. "It was around the time of the midterm elections. Through my American professor at the Vrije Universiteit, I ended up interning with the Democrats’ congressional campaign. It was quite exciting, as the vote in that district had been heavily Republican for 38 years. Still, we ended up winning." During his studies in Political Science, he then did an internship at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS), a think tank that focuses on geopolitical issues and international relations. In addition to internships and studies, Simba was also active at Room for Discussion, a student platform that conducts in-depth interviews with experts. Here he interviewed writer Lale Gül, former NATO secretary Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Dutch politician Gert-Jan Segers. “I especially liked it because I was forced to learn different perspectives.”
Werken voor een NGO
Simba's active student days came to an end in August 2021 after obtaining his second master's degree. “Since September I have had a full-time job at the PharmAccess Foundation, an organization that aims to promote healthcare in Africa. They try to solve the market failures in the healthcare market with the help of digital technology. On the demand side, they make access to healthcare easier by, for example, collaborating with governments to build health insurance policies. On the supply side, they help hospitals by working on quality improvement or arranging credit. So the focus is on transforming the healthcare system.” Simba is mainly involved in fundraising “It is of course an NGO, so we get funding from different partners. I write proposals and report to current donors.” The connection with PPE is quickly made: economic insights and political context are reflected in his work every day.
Photography: David Meulenbeld
