As a Global Scholars Fellow, I was immersed in a 5-week Global Livingston Institute virtual program to get a deep dive in what international development was and learned the different aspects of it, from youth education to public health. Every week, I would listen in to five different lectures led by different guest speakers, including community development leaders from East Africa and NGO program directors. I would also read articles and journals related to what international development was, how Global Livingston Institute tackles international development in a unique approach and the histories of Uganda and Rwanda. I am inspired by the Global Livingston Institute’s mission statement of “Listen. Think. Act.” because it is rooted in the idea of understanding and empathizing a problem thoroughly before taking strategic actions. I learned that society’s problems, whether it’s poverty or gun violence, are so much deeper than the surface level. These complex problems are like icebergs in which most individuals usually view them at surface level. However, the roots of the problem that perpetuates the problems, or the iceberg, is what you cannot visually see. This program taught me that activism means being courageous and committed enough to put in the thoughtful work needed to create meaningful, positive change. Activists put in the effort and time to ensure that the problems are effectively being solved because complex problems call for complex solutions. Through the video chats and readings, I was reminded that international development calls for permanent systematic change, such as educating and empowering local communities, instead of short-term solutions. I appreciated how I got to connect with the fifty other fellows on pertinent international development issues through meaningful discussion boards and personal conversations.

Here is the link to my Google Slides final presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Q1W3gP5CYFmjqfN5gGBiCUoZY2rEPnok8fBff2KoyvE/edit?usp=sharing

This summer, I participated as a Global Scholars Fellow in an immersive 5-week remote-based international development classroom and research experience hosted by the Global Livingston Institute. I was assigned to a 7-person Public Health & Music research group with fellows from Colorado to Louisiana. I was ecstatic to contribute to one of Global Livingston’s major projects, the iKnow Concert Series. The concerts are free public health music festivals offered in East Africa dedicated to offering free health services and de-stigmatizing HIV amongst hard to reach communities. My research group was tasked with strategically assessing and making key recommendations on the applicability and feasibility of the concert series in other communities and countries. Every week, our research group had specific milestones, collaborated through Zoom calls, interviewed experts in the field, and received guidance through our group mentor who is the founder of the concert series. Due to the far-reaching impacts of COVID-19, my research group looked towards expanding the concert into a virtual model through Facebook Live video streams and other technology avenues, such as podcasts to interview rising artists, to disseminate vital public health information. We recommended the concert series to establish strategic partnerships with current NGOs with experience in technology, popular mobile applications amongst the communities, and local Internet providers to assist with rural access. We also researched which countries the concert series should expand to through factors such as public health education and the significance of music in their cultures. Our research group homed in on the countries Rwanda, Tanzania, India, and Nigeria as promising candidates. In week 5, my research group had the opportunity to present our unique findings to Global Livingston Institute board members. I am amazed at how much my group was able to accomplish during this short time together. This was a wonderful fellowship where I got to expand my international development experience through hands-on work, connect with inspirational individuals, and learn more about how the music and the arts can be used as a mechanism to drive public health messages.