Fourteen Boston Students Named CollegeCorps Interns
CollegeCorps, a nonprofit organization based in Cambridge, Massachussetts has announced its second class of interns. In an effort to raise awarness about the UN Millennium Development Goals and to provide students with meaningful volunteer experience, 14 undergraduates have been selected to participate in summer-long internships in eight countries. Collectively, they will receive nearly $55,000 in scholarship support.
Cambridge, MA (PRWEB) April 27, 2005
CollegeCorps, a nonprofit organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts today announced the names of fourteen Boston-area undergraduates selected to participate in the CollegeCorps Intern program. These fourteen students who will be traveling to eight countries – India, Mexico, South Africa, Uganda, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia – represent the second class of interns under the new initiative, endorsed by the United Nations Development Program and supported by the Harvard University Committee on Human Rights Studies, the United Nations, and the New England Regional Peace Corps office.
The fourteen participants – Christina Angelides (Harvard), Elanor Broh (Harvard), Akash Goel (Harvard), Noah Hertz-Bunzl (Harvard), Jane Kim (Harvard), Sarah Kinsella (Harvard), Chen Lim (BC), Karen Lo (Harvard), Hani Malone (Harvard), Ken McKinley (Harvard), Shirali Pandya (MIT), Lilian Perez (Wellesley), Lauren Sancken (Harvard), and Magnolia Turbidy (Clark University) – were selected based on demonstrated leadership abilities, a real and strong desire to contribute to international development efforts and exceptional academic accomplishment. Nearly 100 students applied for positions in Latin America, Africa and Asia.
CollegeCorps interns experience an academic dimension that is rarely emphasized in other international service programs. As part of their application, undergraduates must identify a faculty advisor whom they will work with in outlying an academic project to be completed during their overseas service. Furthermore, the participants engage in weekly training sessions that attract renowned experts in international development, including Paul Farmer, professor at Harvard Medical School and founder of Partners in Health, Stephen Marks, Director of the Center for Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health, Richard Cooper, Professor of international economics at Harvard University and Jeff Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General.
Recognizing that undergraduates are often burdened by the financial aspects of international service, CollegeCorps provides need-based scholarships. This year, over $55,000 in grants were awarded to the participants. These financial awards were made possible by the generosity of local business, philanthropists, and foundations, including ArQule, Inc., the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Gregory C. Carr Foundation.
“I’m really looking forward to my internship in South Africa. I think it will definitely expose me to another dimension of healthcare that my coursework just can’t reveal,” said Malone.
The summer internship program is only one initiative of CollegeCorps. The organization is currently planning events to raise awareness of the UN Millennium Development Goals and hopes to expand its internship program to students in New York City and San Francisco by 2006. Nevertheless, the organization’s CEO and co-founder, Hani Elias, is very pleased and excited with this class of interns. “We are very fortunate to attract such a dedicated group of students – they’re ready to learn from the opportunity to participate in international development efforts, and are looking forward to sharing their findings with their peers when they return."
The public will have the opportunity to follow these fourteen students online at www. thecollegecorps. org. There, participants will post journal entries that speak of the hardships of volunteerism, share lessons learned, and engage in a dialogue with those interested in international development.
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