Women Empowering Women Through Toptal

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.