Projects fuel future Engagement
By: Rahul Kale
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: News
Last update: 9/26/07 at 6:24 AM EST
Last update: 9/26/07 at 6:24 AM EST
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Although DukeEngage will not officially launch until next summer, some participants in last year's pilot program have already had life-altering experiences.
DukeEngage, which is sponsored by the Duke Endowment and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, allows Duke undergraduates to pursue summer or semester-long community service programs either locally or abroad. The program, which aired its pilot program this summer, helps participants develop projects and then funds their travel and living expenses.
"We want to help [students] think about what they want to do in life," said Eric Mlyn, director of DukeEngage and director of the Duke Center for Civic Engagement. "We hope that they bring back with them a real sensitivity to cross-cultural differences and learn how to overcome obstacles."
If results from the pilot programs are any indication, the lifelong lessons Mlyn seeks may be sinking in.
Senior April Edwards, who participated in a DukeEngage-funded program this summer, said she decided to take a year off before attending medical school in order to follow up on her project in Kenya with the Women's Institute of Secondary Education and Research. The institute, Edwards said, is designed to give girls in Kenya equal access to higher education.
"Since becoming involved with WISER, I have realized that my commitment to WISER is long-term," she said.
During her summer abroad, Edwards taught a health class for students of ages 13 to 26 in a camp designed to keep students occupied between school trimesters. Looking back on the experience, Edwards said the class gave her new perspective on the lives of less-fortunate individuals.
"It's one thing to sit in a class and learn about AIDS, viruses and bacteria, and think that is real," she said. "But it's entirely different to have a 10th grader come up to you and say 'I have AIDS, but I don't want to drop out of school, and I want to become a doctor someday. What should I do?'"
DukeEngage, which is sponsored by the Duke Endowment and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, allows Duke undergraduates to pursue summer or semester-long community service programs either locally or abroad. The program, which aired its pilot program this summer, helps participants develop projects and then funds their travel and living expenses.
"We want to help [students] think about what they want to do in life," said Eric Mlyn, director of DukeEngage and director of the Duke Center for Civic Engagement. "We hope that they bring back with them a real sensitivity to cross-cultural differences and learn how to overcome obstacles."
If results from the pilot programs are any indication, the lifelong lessons Mlyn seeks may be sinking in.
Senior April Edwards, who participated in a DukeEngage-funded program this summer, said she decided to take a year off before attending medical school in order to follow up on her project in Kenya with the Women's Institute of Secondary Education and Research. The institute, Edwards said, is designed to give girls in Kenya equal access to higher education.
"Since becoming involved with WISER, I have realized that my commitment to WISER is long-term," she said.
During her summer abroad, Edwards taught a health class for students of ages 13 to 26 in a camp designed to keep students occupied between school trimesters. Looking back on the experience, Edwards said the class gave her new perspective on the lives of less-fortunate individuals.
"It's one thing to sit in a class and learn about AIDS, viruses and bacteria, and think that is real," she said. "But it's entirely different to have a 10th grader come up to you and say 'I have AIDS, but I don't want to drop out of school, and I want to become a doctor someday. What should I do?'"
Be the first to comment on this story