Summer 2007 Interns
Elisabeth Porter is a third year PhD student in the Food and Resource Economics Department. Elisabeth will be working with the Christian Children’s Fund in Belo Horizonte in Brazil.
Ni Xu is a Masters student in Computer Information Science and Engineering Department. Ni is from China and he will be working in the Philippines with the Christian Children’s Fund.
Katleen Jean is a Masters student in the College of Public Health and Health Professions. She will be working with the Christian Children’s Fund in Guinea, West Africa.
Elisabeth, Ni and Katleen will be a part of CCF’s new Management Information System (MIS) project and while stationed in 3 different countries, their main task will be developing a simple , cost-effective , and user-friendly MIS. A Management Information System (MIS) helps to improve organizations’ collective ability to manage and assess the accomplishment of results. Apart from generating timely reports , it would facilitate learning , and timely management decision-making.
Christian Children’s Fund (CCF) is one of the largest child focused charities in the US. Their mission is “to create an environment of hope and respect for needy children of all cultures and beliefs in which they have opportunities to achieve their full potential, and provides practical tools for positive change to children , families , and communities”. CCF directly assists more than ten million children and families worldwide regardless of race , creed , or gender.
Karine Ochoa is a Masters student in the College of Journalism and Mass Communication specializing in International Communications. Karine will be working with Project Concern International in Bolivia assessing the status of its current relationship with donors; designing and/or improving communications strategies and processes that can help PCI Bolivia identify, map and develop highest potential funding opportunities. She will be creating and implementing a strategic action plan to develop new resources in Bolivia, the United States and elsewhere; making recommendations to senior management in this area and assisting PCI Bolivia staff in implementing recommended strategies, actions and proposal development.
Candice Pauley is a Masters student in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications specializing in Public Relations. Candice will be working with the Project Concern International in Zambia on developing technical reports that will assist PCI in disseminating outcomes of its innovative work in several intervention areas. She will be working on a report addressing “lessons learned” during a recently completed 5-year, multi-country project in which the Zambia focus area was building capacity for individuals and agencies in HIV/AIDS programming (the BEACON Initiative).
Project Concern International (PCI) is a leading non-profit, international health organization based in San Diego, California that reaches over three million people a year with programs in eleven countries. PCI saves the lives of children and families around the world by preventing disease and providing access to clean water and nutritious food. In addition, PCI provides parents and their worldwide partners with training, support and care crucial to protecting the well-being of children and families.
Gina Canales is a first year PhD student in Interdisciplinary Ecology. Gina will be working with the Collaborative Development Initiative; this is Mercy Corps' newest program in Kyrgyzstan. It aims to enable citizens and community leaders to manage conflict, expect and practice good governance, and identify and pursue opportunities for economic development. She will be focusing on establishing mentorship programs for at-risk youth in vacations such as welding and clothes making.
Mercy Corps works with disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to help people affected by these circumstances. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1 billion in assistance to people in 82 nations. Mercy Corps has learned that communities recovering from war or social upheaval must be the agents of their own transformation for change to endure. It's only when communities set their own agendas, raise their own resources and implement programs themselves, that their first successes result in the renewed hope, confidence and skills to continue development.
If you have any questions about the World Citizenship Program, contact Aleks Nesic at aleksn@ufic.ufl.edu or 352-273-1527.