(Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe)
As part of Fordham’s International Peace and Development Travel Scholarship Program, two Fordham IPED students, Ms. Sonali Chib and Ms. Stephanie Pins, are spending the Spring 2000 semester in Zimbabwe interning with Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) Southern African Regional Office in Harare. CRS is the official relief and development agency for the US Catholic community.
As an undergraduate Stephanie, a Chicago native, spent six months working on community development projects in Ghana. As part of her graduate studies at Fordham, she worked with the Trickle Up Program to help develop a loan program for economic development in Africa. Stephanie hopes that her experience in Africa eventually takes her to Washington, D.C. where she plans to work with policy-makers on economic issues affecting countries such as Zimbabwe.
Due to the emergency situation caused by the massive flooding in southern Africa, Stephanie has been heavily involved in the coordination and administration of flood relief assistance to Mozambique and portions of Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Prior to her studies at Fordham, Sonali , a native of India, served in New Delhi with Oxfam, a private international aid organization. Through her work with Oxfam and her studies at Fordham, she has developed a deep interest in the concerns of women in developing countries. Sonali hopes to return to India and assist in the development of her home country.
While in Harare, Sonali is working on a project designed to promote the development of civil society in the southern region of Africa. She is helping to develop a network of institutional supports that will allow church based organizations have a larger voice on various public policy issues.
(Skyline of Harare, Zimbabwe)
The International Peace and Development (IPD) Travel Scholarship Program provides IPED students with a valuable work experience that they frequently need to pursue their careers. The IPD Travel Scholarship Program also promotes Fordham’s Jesuit tradition. Dealing with issues of justice, equity and people in need goes hand in hand with Fordham’s mission as New York City’s Jesuit University.
(From left to right: Mr. Daniel Deng, CRS Program Manager; Ms. Sonali Chib, IPED Intern;
Prof. Henry Schwalbenberg, Fordham; and Ms. Stephanie Pins, IPED Intern in Harare, Zimbabwe)