So I’m in this class at Northwestern called “Creative Nonfiction: The Art of Writing for Social Change” along with half the staff in GES. We were recently assigned homework to write about what writing for social change is and what it can be. Besides the traditional reactions and answers, the crux of the discussion in class revolved around what the end product of such writing should be. I obviously don’t know the final answer but, more truthfully, I’m probably disappointed with the common response. Writing, I guess, is ...

I traveled to Namibia to report on refugee issues with fellow students and my journalism professor for a week this past December. Once there, we spent our time talking to refugees at the settlement and neighboring town, Otjiwarongo, and then compiling the information onto our website, www.refugeelives.org. In almost every sense, the sweltering heat of the Namibian desert is a world away from the snowy sidewalks of Northwestern.  Besides the family and friends I spammed with the link to the site, ...

By Sojung Park 1. How long have you been part of GES and what was your favorite part about the experience? I joined GES (it was IYVS at the time) when I was a sophomore (2006-2007). At the time I knew very little about international development, so GES became my teacher--the people, the experiences, the summit, and the opportunities. My favorite part was that everyone and everything shaped one another, pushing and pulling until something smarter, more responsible, and more beautiful emerged. ...

This week Northwestern's Conference on Human Rights kick off with an opening keynote speech by Rose Mapendo, "a global activist for peace and reconciliation, The 2009 United Nations Humanitarian of the Year, CNN Hero and Volvo for Life Award Recipient."  To read more of her incredibly story visit http://mapendonewhorizons.org/node/34 The conference is themed Human Rights in Transit: Issues of Forced Migration and also includes a closing keynote speech, "Cessation: Uganda Style" by Dr. Barbara Harrell-Bond of Oxford University. According to the Cultural Orientation Resource ...

By Maryam Adamu 1. What was your experience like with the GES? Did you have a project in mind when you came in? I found GES as a platform to meet youth social entrepreneurs around the world and to build a stronger network with various like-minded organizations and individuals. It was also an idea lab where people with varieties of experiences and background come together and discuss freely. Furthermore, the online connection made GES community more beautiful. When I was in GES ...

By Tadelech Mengesha How long were you in GES and what was your favorite part? I was in GES for three years (sophomore through senior year). My favorite part was by far the people I met and the friendships I developed. The people in GES became some of my closest friends at NU, and both the staff and the delegates were among the most driven, passionate people I've ever know. Aside from that, I also just loved throwing down at Ethiopian ...

By Kristin Coveney Off the top of my head, GES allowed me to pursue my deepest interest in international affairs that the university’s academic offerings did not fully support. Separate from the bureaucratic and static course offerings, the Summit lets us run with our natural curiosity and I think therefore I learned more as a member of GES than as a student at Northwestern. This meant we learned about topics underrepresented at NU but also about processes and skills that traditional ...

By Kristin Coveney Eric Mulwanyi and his five siblings grew up in a rural, Ugandan village with only their mother to raise them. While some might view this as an insurmountable obstacle, Eric saw an opportunity. He now helps youths to develop their own businesses by promoting cheap, modern pig rearing techniques, and forming savings and loan associations. Eric originally set out to translate classroom ideas into tangible projects through low-cost, advanced farming. However, after the 2010 Global Engagement Summit, he refined ...

By Tadelech Mengesha In the current U.S. economy, more and more U.S. citizens are beginning to live lives that resemble that of third-world people. Luckily, the United States is fortunate enough to establish homeless shelters for people in need; but even these are sometimes not adequate enough to give these families opportunities to fully rise out of poverty. However, United States is even luckier to have people like Calla Hales. Calla is a junior at Hofstra University, who like many other college ...

By Hyun Kim (Kimmy) Northwestern Class of 2009 GES 2006-2009: 2007- Co-Chair of Open Shutter, 2008-09 Co-Director of GES Studied abroad at the London School of Economics during Junior Year, Studied abroad in India after Freshman and Sophomore Years Masters Degree in International Development at London School of Economics Currently working at a non-profit strategy consulting firm in Washington D.C. (FSG) Rajni described GES as an incredibly meaningful experience because it emphasized hard work and a commitment to more thoughtful ways to make change. GES influenced her future ...