Despite the sweltering Panamanian heat, I beamed as the
twenty graduates from my United States Peace Corps “Girls Leading Our World”
summer camp explained how they were going to apply the lessons they learned to
projects within their own communities. Weeks spent designing the curriculum,
raising funds, working with local leaders, and handling logistics had all
contributed to this crucial moment when the girls felt empowered to become
leaders within their communities. While I was successful in affecting change in
my Panamanian community, I recognize that with advanced theoretical knowledge
and analytical tools I can create positive global change. Having witnessed
firsthand the incredible results of empowering young girls in developing
countries, I am committed to continuing this work and am requesting to be
considered for Toptal’s “Empowering Future Female Leaders to Change the World”
scholarship to help finance my graduate education and realize my professional
aspirations.
My goal is to break down educational barriers for girls in
Latin America by addressing the need for culturally appropriate feminine
hygiene products that will allow them to stay in school. After conducting
extensive research on the importance of female education in developing
countries, I found it to be a consistent determinant of progress for various
aspects of development ranging from mortality declines, economic growth,
democracy, and equity. However the unfortunate reality is that stigmas
surrounding menstruation and a lack of sanitary resources in developing
countries often force girls to drop out of school once they reach puberty,
causing detrimental consequences on societal progress. I also found that most
international aid efforts that address this issue are focused in Africa and Asia,
and that Latin American countries are often neglected. With the growing
economic and political issues many countries like Venezuela, Guatemala, and
Honduras face, girls in these volatile countries are all too often forced to
drop out of school, further perpetuating the country’s problem.
My experience working in Panama taught me that even in
countries that are by comparison economically secure, the wealth disparity is
vast and marginalized groups like indigenous populations are overlooked. Having
worked successfully with local and national sexual health organizations in
Panama while serving as the President of the Gender and Development Committee,
I am familiar with some potential regional partnerships and support. What I aim to do is to connect these efforts
with international aid organizations that are already doing this work in Africa
in order to create sustainable solutions that address feminine hygiene issues
within Latin America. I would start in Panama by building off of the contacts
and knowledge that I already have then expand outward to other Latin American
countries.
I believe that it takes someone who has experience working
effectively on the ground with host-country counterparts that can approach each
project from a social anthropological perspective in order to achieve
sustainable development, and that after I complete my graduate education I will
be uniquely qualified to do just that. There are many religious, cultural,
educational, and policy barriers that can prevent the widespread use of
specific tools like Diva Cups (a reusable, eco-friendly hygiene product) in
certain areas, and I hope to gain a deeper understanding through my graduate
studies of how to navigate and work with international social and public
policies so that I can introduce tools like this in communities where they can
be successfully utilized.
I have strategically pursued academic tracks that give me
the underlying theoretical knowledge and practical experience to approach
development from a holistic perspective. My undergraduate degree in global
studies, anthropology, and Spanish laid a broad foundation for me to evaluate
international issues. I have applied to the London School of Economics for
their MSc in International Social and Public Policy (development stream) and
MSc in Development Management programs because both will provide me with the
skills necessary to work for an international non-profit focused on this issue.
I was immediately drawn to the International Social and Public Policy (ISPP)
program because of the emphasis it places on hard skills such as research
methods, evaluation techniques, and analyzing case studies. These are key
skills that I need to compliment the language, cultural, and soft skills that I
learned while working as a Teaching English, Leadership, and Life Skills
volunteer in the Peace Corps. Additionally, this degree provides the background
information necessary to understand data by examining the variations within
policy domains from countries of all socio-economic levels, which is something
that cannot be learned in the field. I also wish to gain a greater
understanding of the international development process, so the Development
Management program is equally as intriguing. This program will teach me how to
examine both the comparative statics and dynamics of development in order to
create a personalized implementation strategy that is specific for each
community in which I hope to apply my passion project. A degree from either
program is the critical next step that I need in order to undertake a project
of this magnitude.
The professional experiences that I have give me critical
skills that will enable me to succeed with my graduate studies and with my
passion project. When I created the “Girls Leading Our World” summer camp, I worked
with various community leaders to design the content of the course, secure a
location, hire a local cook, and create emergency action plans. We made sexual
health education a key component of the camp since menstruation, sex, HIV/AIDS,
and sexually transmitted diseases are taboo subjects in Panamá. We worked with
a local health representative who understood these cultural nuances and was
able to effectively provide subject matter expertise in a way that the girls
could relate to. This first-hand experience of working in a developing country
with host country counterparts and gaining valuable project management skills
in designing, implementing, and monitoring/evaluating projects provides me
insight on the lessons of both the ISPP and Development Management programs and
gave me contacts that will be invaluable for my passion project.
I saw the critical role that strategic communication plays
in affecting development work during my time in the Peace Corps, and I sought a
position where I could further hone this skill. As an associate manager of
communications for the Smithsonian Institution, I have applied the diplomatic
skills I gained in the field to the mission of a world-renowned organization by
collaborating with foreign embassies, government agencies, and global press
outlets on projects promoting cultural dialogue and exchange. This position
allows me to question the efficacy of outdated policy practices and has taught
me how to use data to adjust our communication tactics; two things that are crucial
components of both programs and will be important skills to help me manage my
future project.
While I have experience working with grassroots
organizations, I am seeking a mentor who has worked with international
non-profit organizations and foundations. Ideally, this person would have
connections to international health organizations such as the World Health
Organization, UNICEF, Women for Women International, Sustainable Health
Enterprises, WASH United, and others. Contacts with international organizations
that promote female education such as School Girls Unite, Global Fund For
Women, Save the Children, and others would also be invaluable. In order to
finance my project, I would need to work with someone who has experience
writing large grant proposals who understands the financial nuances of working
with a larger aid organization. Many companies are recognizing the economic
value of contributing to aid efforts, such as Always who has partnered with
over 60 organizations to provide over 100 million pads to girls around the
world. I am convinced that companies like this will be willing to either donate
some of their surplus products or sell them to me at the wholesale value. I do
not have an educational background in business, so I would greatly benefit from
a mentor who has experience in negotiating these types of exchanges.
I have always believed in working hard for the things that I
want. Since I was 16, I have consistently held at least one job in order to
finance my long and short-term goals. I started by making breakfast as a short
order cook in my hometown diner in Vermont; now I am writing press releases for
the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. I recognize that being an
American allows me certain privileges, advantages, and opportunities that many
people around the world do not have. I have a visceral desire to help level the
playing field, which is one of the reasons why I sacrificed two years of
earning potential to join the Peace Corps right after college. I have always
been very frugal with my finances, and surviving on the sparse monthly stipend
that I received from the Peace Corps further taught me to budget my money.
Living off of an entry-level communications job at the Smithsonian has been
similar to my Peace Corps experience since the costs of living in Washington,
D.C. are notoriously high. Thanks to my frugal lifestyle, I have been able to
save a nominal amount of money but it only scratches the surface of my tuition
and living costs. I believe that my track record of hard work, clear
professional vision, and current financial circumstance make me a particularly
deserving candidate for additional financial aid.
I am applying for Toptal’s “Empowering Future Female Leaders
to Change the World” scholarship because I believe that investing in my vision
will yield a high rate of return for our global society. We must continue to
address the societal faults around the world that impede women from reaching
their full potential. Breaking down educational barriers to women by providing
culturally appropriate feminine hygiene products will enable them to continue
their education and open up professional opportunities. When women are
educated, empowered, and independent, the positive societal domino effect that
results is far-reaching. For the future of our global society, we can’t afford
not to invest in women. Right now, I’m asking you to invest in this woman. I am
confident that my experience and accomplishments in international development
and communications are clear indicators of my ability to excel in either
program, and that both would equip me with the theoretical and practical skills
necessary to carry out the work to which I feel so strongly called.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
