Think Impact Global Development Fellows – 2010
Think Impact connects American college students and young adults with developing countries to alleviate poverty through a sustained commitment to social innovation, leadership and entrepreneurship. Think Impact Fellows are a select group of young leaders that we’ve invited to participate in our Global Development Program. They offer ideas, leadership, and capital to leverage social innovation and local community resources to alleviate poverty.
The Fellows spent the summer of 2009 as Global Development Interns, living and learning in rural communities in South Africa and Kenya. Working with local leadership, they laid the groundwork for development programs addressing health, hunger and education. The Fellows will be returning to Africa in 2010 to implement their proposed projects with local community partners. We’ve profiled each of the Fellows and their projects below. Read on for more details, and learn how you can support the projects!
Dixie Youth Center
Mary Templeton, South Africa
Partner with Mary as she provides a safe after school environment for youth to participate in recreational, cultural and educational activities in Dixie, South Africa. Mary will coordinate after school programs that focus on teaching health and English classes, preserving the local Shangaan culture, and providing recreation programs to build youth confidence.
Sprouts for Education
Jessica Maurer, South Africa
Support Jessica’s efforts to increase student attendance, educational opportunities and confront hunger through a sustainable food program at the local preschool in Makrepeni, South Africa. Jessica will be working with the women of the Makrepeni cre`che to create an agricultural co-operative and to grow food for the school, providing a source of revenue and nutrition.
Kayafungo Ground Up Project
Laura MacArthur, Kenya
Join Laura in combating starvation in Kayafungo, Kenya by bringing together farmers to share knowledge and mobilize local assets. As part of the Ground Up project, Laura will help create a demonstration farm, implementing both a solar-powered drip irrigation system and a digital video curriculum. These efforts will improve food security through the sharing of best practices.
Women’s Action Center
Alexandra Crosson, Kenya
Help Alexandra utilize social entrepreneurship health programs and educational trainings to develop a Women’s Action Center in Kayafungo, Kenya. The Action Center empowers local women by creating a secure environment for incubating the soap making business, and for discussing topics such as sanitation, violence and abuse, healthy relationships and keeping girls in school.
