Students Making A Difference: Working for Nonprofits in Developing Countries
2008 Crook Fellows
September 16, 2008 @ 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm, Sid Richardson Hall, 3.109
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The 2008 Crook Fellows described their experiences from their international development internships this past summer sponsored by the Strauss Center’s William H. Crook Chair in International Relations. The Fellows, comprised of 6 current LBJ graduate students and 1 recent LBJ graduate, are:
- Joyce Zhao, who conducted research on community transformation for the Institute for Sustainable Communities in Guangdong, China;
- Ben Ford, who researched public policy issues related to the mining industry in Mongolia for the Asia Foundation’s Securing Our Future program;
- Becca Carson and Nirav Shah, who developed and implemented a micro-health insurance program for the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children in Uganda;
- Todd Smith, who spent the summer in Cape Town, South Africa, working for the Impumelelo Innovations Award Trust, evaluated over 10 local government programs to identify those programs exhibiting good governance and innovative service delivery;
- Shannon Dugan, who worked in Africa on fundraising and operational services with the non-governmental organization Operation O.F., which works with victims of obstetric fistula; and
- Akram Al-Turk, who conducted field research on the effectiveness of microfinance loans for FINCA International in Amman, Jordan and worked in the West Bank with the Palestinian Hydrology Group.
The Fellows also discussed whether they think international development events are working. Their conclusions were mixed. Akram Al-Turk believed that development efforts could be working better and seemed to rely too much on international aid. Becca Carson was encouraged by her experiences working with local NGOs.
The Crook Chair is dedicated to promoting global economic development and fighting poverty and sponsors the Crook Fellowships for graduate students working for nonprofit organizations in developing countries.
Strauss Center Director Jim Lindsay introduced the Crook Fellows.
Crook Fellows Becca Carson and Nirav Shah discussed their work in Uganda.
Ben Ford and Akram Al-Turk listened to their fellow grantees' presentations.
Shannon Dugan described the difficulties in establishing a non-profit organization in Africa.
An audience of students attended the presentation.
Joyce Zhao explained her factory site visits in Guangzhou, China.
Todd Smith, who conducted research in South Africa, took notes on the other Fellows' work.
The Strauss Center is nonpartisan and takes no institutional position on any issue. All statements of fact and all expressions of opinion at Center events are the sole responsibility of the speaker.
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