for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution
DUKE-UNC ROTARY CENTER
Mariam Abuhaideri, India
Masters in International Development Policy, Duke University
Mariam Abuhaideri is an Associate with the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research and is presently pursuing research which will culminate in a book and documentary on youth influenced pro-peace ideas in Iran and a number of other MENA countries. She is interested in working as an independent policy consultant in India and parts of the Middle East assisting with implementing a number of projects and ideas. She is passionate about youth- led socio-economic development, but one that is grounded in societal realities. Eventually, she'd like to serve as a policy maker in India.
Mariam Abuhaideri is an Associate with the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research and is presently pursuing research which will culminate in a book and documentary on youth influenced pro-peace ideas in Iran and a number of other MENA countries. She is interested in working as an independent policy consultant in India and parts of the Middle East assisting with implementing a number of projects and ideas. She is passionate about youth- led socio-economic development, but one that is grounded in societal realities. Eventually, she'd like to serve as a policy maker in India.
Kozue Araki, Japan
School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
After her undergraduate studies in Peace and Global Studies at Earlham College, Kozue Araki engaged in public relations at the Japan Committee for UNICEF. Subsequently she worked at the Culture, Education and Science Bureau of the Egyptian Embassy in Tokyo until she arrived at UNC. She has worked toward encouraging educational and scientific cooperation between Japan and Egypt. She greatly enjoyed introducing Egyptian and Islamic culture to the Japanese society through cultural activities. With her passion for children and youth, she has spent some time in Palestine and Northern Ireland during her undergraduate career. At the School of Education at UNC, she will pursue her original research interest in educational assistance as a tool to promote peace in post-conflict areas. She is particularly interested in working with former child combatants in Africa and/or Arab countries.
After her undergraduate studies in Peace and Global Studies at Earlham College, Kozue Araki engaged in public relations at the Japan Committee for UNICEF. Subsequently she worked at the Culture, Education and Science Bureau of the Egyptian Embassy in Tokyo until she arrived at UNC. She has worked toward encouraging educational and scientific cooperation between Japan and Egypt. She greatly enjoyed introducing Egyptian and Islamic culture to the Japanese society through cultural activities. With her passion for children and youth, she has spent some time in Palestine and Northern Ireland during her undergraduate career. At the School of Education at UNC, she will pursue her original research interest in educational assistance as a tool to promote peace in post-conflict areas. She is particularly interested in working with former child combatants in Africa and/or Arab countries.
Daniel Auguste, Haiti
Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Daniel earned a BA from Covenant College (USA), with a major in Economics and a minor in Community Development. His work has focused on economic and community development. Daniel has facilitated partnerships between Haitian grassroots organizations and western development workers in the areas of education and healthcare. He has also worked to ensure child development and well-being in Haiti. In 2006, he cofounded a children's home, Yahve-Jire Children's Foundation, in Haiti, which houses 20 children. During and after his studies he plans to research the intersection of human capital, economic development and peace. Daniel is particularly interested in investigating how economic and educational opportunity can facilitate economic and social development, and peace.
Daniel earned a BA from Covenant College (USA), with a major in Economics and a minor in Community Development. His work has focused on economic and community development. Daniel has facilitated partnerships between Haitian grassroots organizations and western development workers in the areas of education and healthcare. He has also worked to ensure child development and well-being in Haiti. In 2006, he cofounded a children's home, Yahve-Jire Children's Foundation, in Haiti, which houses 20 children. During and after his studies he plans to research the intersection of human capital, economic development and peace. Daniel is particularly interested in investigating how economic and educational opportunity can facilitate economic and social development, and peace.
Jessica Butcher, Australia
School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Jessica's area of expertise is multicultural interfaith dialogue, especially between and within Muslim and Christian communities. During undergraduate studies at the Australian National University and Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (Indonesia), and subsequent work in Indonesia, Jessica developed an appreciation for the complexities and implications associated with interfaith conflict and peace. In 2008 she initiated work on an annual international program, Uniting through Faith, to facilitate relationship development and mutual education between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia and Australia. This program, with an annual participation of over 4000 individuals, seeded a number of other interfaith initiatives including ongoing local relationships between churches and mosques; university inclusivity programs; international interfaith youth programs and a student interfaith conference. Following the success of the Uniting through Faith pilot program, Jessica was employed by a network of church schools and further assisted in the support of intercultural and interfaith contexts within those environments. Schoolies with a Cause was a major outcome of this relationship and Jessica managed the first three cause-based youth programs in 2010: Schoolies for Reconciliation; Schoolies for the Environment and Schoolies for Our Global Community. Following her energizing experience working with schools, Jessica elected to pursue her Peace Fellowship in the School of Education at UNC and is interested in researching and developing methodology to promote understanding of emerging and stigmatized religious groups within mainstream society.
Jessica's area of expertise is multicultural interfaith dialogue, especially between and within Muslim and Christian communities. During undergraduate studies at the Australian National University and Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (Indonesia), and subsequent work in Indonesia, Jessica developed an appreciation for the complexities and implications associated with interfaith conflict and peace. In 2008 she initiated work on an annual international program, Uniting through Faith, to facilitate relationship development and mutual education between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia and Australia. This program, with an annual participation of over 4000 individuals, seeded a number of other interfaith initiatives including ongoing local relationships between churches and mosques; university inclusivity programs; international interfaith youth programs and a student interfaith conference. Following the success of the Uniting through Faith pilot program, Jessica was employed by a network of church schools and further assisted in the support of intercultural and interfaith contexts within those environments. Schoolies with a Cause was a major outcome of this relationship and Jessica managed the first three cause-based youth programs in 2010: Schoolies for Reconciliation; Schoolies for the Environment and Schoolies for Our Global Community. Following her energizing experience working with schools, Jessica elected to pursue her Peace Fellowship in the School of Education at UNC and is interested in researching and developing methodology to promote understanding of emerging and stigmatized religious groups within mainstream society.
Sophie Brown, Australia
Masters in International Development Policy, Duke University
Sophie Brown is an economist with experience working in the field most recently in Indonesia and Central Asia on various rural development projects. Previously Sophie worked in Afghanistan and Pakistan on policy issues that affect service delivery and results in fragile states. Her main area of interest is public expenditure and poverty related policy. Sophie has bachelors' degrees in Agricultural Economics, and in Arts (majoring in French language and international relations) from the University of Sydney, as well as a Masters of Commerce in advanced economics from the University of New South Wales. As a Rotary Peace Fellow at the Sanford School of Public Policy, Sophie's research interests include the link between public expenditure and poverty reduction.
Sophie Brown is an economist with experience working in the field most recently in Indonesia and Central Asia on various rural development projects. Previously Sophie worked in Afghanistan and Pakistan on policy issues that affect service delivery and results in fragile states. Her main area of interest is public expenditure and poverty related policy. Sophie has bachelors' degrees in Agricultural Economics, and in Arts (majoring in French language and international relations) from the University of Sydney, as well as a Masters of Commerce in advanced economics from the University of New South Wales. As a Rotary Peace Fellow at the Sanford School of Public Policy, Sophie's research interests include the link between public expenditure and poverty reduction.
Carlos Guiza Ceron, Colombia
Masters in International Development Policy, Duke University
Carlos Guiza has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Javeriana University in Colombia with a specialization in International Cooperation from the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in Bogota. He has special interest in quality management and human rights, and has earned multiple certificates of study in these areas. He served as coordinator of the orientation office for displaced communities in Colombia for one year, focusing on food security and enabling effective access to the services provided by the government, UN agencies, and NGOs. He then worked for the health department as a consultant on health investment plans for displaced people for two years. He spent the last five years as an income generation specialist for the Colombian government in the plains region (i.e., the eastern portion of Colombia known as the llanos), engaging in negotiations regarding land property issues and housing, and implementing Income Generation projects for displaced communities.
In his professional life, he has always been concerned about becoming a bridge that connects the needs of displaced communities with government projects and the international cooperation (e.g., agencies, Ngo's). This bridge is key for creating an organized aid system that maximizes its achievement in providing displaced communities a solid basis for sustainable development.
As a Rotary World Peace Fellow at the Sanford School of Public Policy, Carlos´ main research interest is to find sustainable Income Generation proposals as a path for economic, human, and social development for conflict victims.
Carlos Guiza has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Javeriana University in Colombia with a specialization in International Cooperation from the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in Bogota. He has special interest in quality management and human rights, and has earned multiple certificates of study in these areas. He served as coordinator of the orientation office for displaced communities in Colombia for one year, focusing on food security and enabling effective access to the services provided by the government, UN agencies, and NGOs. He then worked for the health department as a consultant on health investment plans for displaced people for two years. He spent the last five years as an income generation specialist for the Colombian government in the plains region (i.e., the eastern portion of Colombia known as the llanos), engaging in negotiations regarding land property issues and housing, and implementing Income Generation projects for displaced communities.
In his professional life, he has always been concerned about becoming a bridge that connects the needs of displaced communities with government projects and the international cooperation (e.g., agencies, Ngo's). This bridge is key for creating an organized aid system that maximizes its achievement in providing displaced communities a solid basis for sustainable development.
As a Rotary World Peace Fellow at the Sanford School of Public Policy, Carlos´ main research interest is to find sustainable Income Generation proposals as a path for economic, human, and social development for conflict victims.
Abu Sufian Taj Elassfia, Sudan
Masters in International Development Policy, Duke University
Abu Sufian Hassan earned his bachelor's degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from Sudan University of Science and Technology in December 2004. After graduating, he worked as a volunteer with several national NGOs. In 2005 he participated in the Pan African Youth Leadership Summit in Morocco and the United Nation Global Summit in New York for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Since then, he has become more interested in international development, human rights and peace building issues. For the last 5 years, Abu Sufian has worked for the United Nations Joint Logistics Center, (USAID/DAI) and local organizations in the region of Darfur to help mobilize community leaders, youth and women's organizations to participate in the peace process through addressing important issues such as land access, the effectiveness of the traditional dispute system, and the role of community leaders in the reconciliation and compensation process. He believes that without social justice there will be no peace in Sudan, and he hopes that the Rotary Peace Fellowship will give him the skills and knowledge to work with others from Sudan (Southern, Western, Northern and Eastern) to bring peace and stability back to the country.
Abu Sufian Hassan earned his bachelor's degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from Sudan University of Science and Technology in December 2004. After graduating, he worked as a volunteer with several national NGOs. In 2005 he participated in the Pan African Youth Leadership Summit in Morocco and the United Nation Global Summit in New York for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Since then, he has become more interested in international development, human rights and peace building issues. For the last 5 years, Abu Sufian has worked for the United Nations Joint Logistics Center, (USAID/DAI) and local organizations in the region of Darfur to help mobilize community leaders, youth and women's organizations to participate in the peace process through addressing important issues such as land access, the effectiveness of the traditional dispute system, and the role of community leaders in the reconciliation and compensation process. He believes that without social justice there will be no peace in Sudan, and he hopes that the Rotary Peace Fellowship will give him the skills and knowledge to work with others from Sudan (Southern, Western, Northern and Eastern) to bring peace and stability back to the country.
Ana Catalina Garcia, Mexico
Department of Geography, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ana Catalina Garcia de Alba Diaz started her undergraduate education at the University of British Columbia, Canada in 2001. After three years immersed in the cosmopolitanism of Vancouver, she returned to Mexico, graduating with a degree in International Relations from the Universidad Iberoamericana in 2006. During her senior year, she worked as an intern at the Human Rights Defense Unit within the Mexican Ministry of the Interior, overseeing the implementation of decisions by the Inter American Court for Human Rights. She began her professional career working under Federico Vázquez Calero, Director of the National and International Dialogue at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Mexico. This experience gave her the chance to focus her energy on issues of development, as well as national and international political cooperation between Mexico, Germany and the European Union. In 2009, she joined the UNDP's Political Analysis and Prospective Scenarios Project's regional team, researching the impact of the international economic and financial crisis on democratic governance in Latin America. During this time she also increased her academic focus to concentrate on Early Warning Systems development, social volatility, elite theory and the democratization processes in Latin America. Most recently she has worked as a Corporate Interlock Researcher with the Project on Organizing, Development, Education and Research (PODER) and broadened her interests to cover such issues as social network analysis and corporate accountability. Additional topics she is passionate about include Cultural Diplomacy, Nation Building, Nation Branding and The Muppets. Ana Catalina hopes that the Rotary Peace Fellowship will allow her to further develop her unique skill set so that she can better help address the severe social inequality in Mexico and throughout the world.
Ana Catalina Garcia de Alba Diaz started her undergraduate education at the University of British Columbia, Canada in 2001. After three years immersed in the cosmopolitanism of Vancouver, she returned to Mexico, graduating with a degree in International Relations from the Universidad Iberoamericana in 2006. During her senior year, she worked as an intern at the Human Rights Defense Unit within the Mexican Ministry of the Interior, overseeing the implementation of decisions by the Inter American Court for Human Rights. She began her professional career working under Federico Vázquez Calero, Director of the National and International Dialogue at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Mexico. This experience gave her the chance to focus her energy on issues of development, as well as national and international political cooperation between Mexico, Germany and the European Union. In 2009, she joined the UNDP's Political Analysis and Prospective Scenarios Project's regional team, researching the impact of the international economic and financial crisis on democratic governance in Latin America. During this time she also increased her academic focus to concentrate on Early Warning Systems development, social volatility, elite theory and the democratization processes in Latin America. Most recently she has worked as a Corporate Interlock Researcher with the Project on Organizing, Development, Education and Research (PODER) and broadened her interests to cover such issues as social network analysis and corporate accountability. Additional topics she is passionate about include Cultural Diplomacy, Nation Building, Nation Branding and The Muppets. Ana Catalina hopes that the Rotary Peace Fellowship will allow her to further develop her unique skill set so that she can better help address the severe social inequality in Mexico and throughout the world.
Kirandeep Sirah, UK - Scotland
Department of Folklore, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Kiran has a diverse career history, having developed a number of award winning national and international arts, cultural and human rights programs. He began his career as an artist and teacher, which led him to develop folk and faith based programs at the National Museums of Scotland, post 9/11. After establishing a number of peace and conflict resolution initiatives exploring issues of religious, ethnic and sectarian conflicts in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Kiran went on to develop arts-led projects that explore poverty, gang violence, and modern day slavery, working with refugees affected by war and persecution, including socially marginalized people such as migrant Roma Gypsy communities. As curator of St Mungo Museum of Religion, Kiran developed identity and integration projects through poetry, music, dance and storytelling including establishing Scotland's first Haitian Voodoo alter and Rastafari sound system. Kiran is interested in how artistic, human and material vernacular expressions can be used to develop the notion of a truly multicultural plural society by validating the traditions of culture and exploring how these shape and form our societies. Kiran is also a slam poet, having performed across the UK in competitions, political rallies and at Edinburgh's international arts festival. Kiran has a passion for human stories believing these can play a key role in establishing discourse and dialogue amongst our divided societies.
Kiran has a diverse career history, having developed a number of award winning national and international arts, cultural and human rights programs. He began his career as an artist and teacher, which led him to develop folk and faith based programs at the National Museums of Scotland, post 9/11. After establishing a number of peace and conflict resolution initiatives exploring issues of religious, ethnic and sectarian conflicts in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Kiran went on to develop arts-led projects that explore poverty, gang violence, and modern day slavery, working with refugees affected by war and persecution, including socially marginalized people such as migrant Roma Gypsy communities. As curator of St Mungo Museum of Religion, Kiran developed identity and integration projects through poetry, music, dance and storytelling including establishing Scotland's first Haitian Voodoo alter and Rastafari sound system. Kiran is interested in how artistic, human and material vernacular expressions can be used to develop the notion of a truly multicultural plural society by validating the traditions of culture and exploring how these shape and form our societies. Kiran is also a slam poet, having performed across the UK in competitions, political rallies and at Edinburgh's international arts festival. Kiran has a passion for human stories believing these can play a key role in establishing discourse and dialogue amongst our divided societies.
Rachel Rafferty, UK - Northern Ireland
School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Rachel has eight years experience in the field of education - both formal and community-based education. For the five years previous to taking up her Rotary Peace Fellowship she has been working in her native Northern Ireland on a variety of peace education projects, including teacher-training, youth art projects and the production of peace education resources. She will be studying in the School of Education on the MA Culture Curriculum and Change, where she plans to look at violence reduction through classroom techniques to increase emotional literacy. In the future she would like to play a positive role in reforming education so that it focuses more on developing students into peaceful, pro-active citizens. She is particularly passionate about the opportunities offered by the adoption of informal educational approaches into the mainstream education sector.
Rachel has eight years experience in the field of education - both formal and community-based education. For the five years previous to taking up her Rotary Peace Fellowship she has been working in her native Northern Ireland on a variety of peace education projects, including teacher-training, youth art projects and the production of peace education resources. She will be studying in the School of Education on the MA Culture Curriculum and Change, where she plans to look at violence reduction through classroom techniques to increase emotional literacy. In the future she would like to play a positive role in reforming education so that it focuses more on developing students into peaceful, pro-active citizens. She is particularly passionate about the opportunities offered by the adoption of informal educational approaches into the mainstream education sector.