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Leadership for Social Justice

IFP Book

Origins, Journeys and
            Returns
Now Available: Free Electronic Download
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About the book
 
Yi Xiaohua: CHINA

Yi Xiaohua received her master’s in Environmental Studies from Antioch College in 2010. Combining her passions for nature and land conservation, Xiaohua now leads sustainable tourism and waste reduction initiatives in her community.

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Alumna Publishes New Report on Egyptian Youth

Fatma El Zahraa began earning her Ph.D. in Europe-Middle Eastern Studies with support from an IFP Fellowship, and will soon receive her doctorate. A faculty member at Cairo University, her report was recently published for the Population Reference Bureau.

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IFP Russia: Breaking New Ground through Higher Ed

As Ford IFP approaches its research and evaluation phase, and on the occasion of IFP Russia’s program closure, IFP Director Mary Zurbuchen reflects on the historical relevance of the fellowship program in Russia, and its impact on a changing society.

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Fellow performs "Frida" at New York University

As an IFP Fellow and performance artist, Rosalie tirelessly demonstrates her commitment to art as an education and empowerment tool. Check out her latest theatrical piece, a multicultural collaboration between eight women artists from around the world.

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Shaping Culture: China's New Media Landscape

A believer in the transformative power of  online networks, IFP Alumna Zhang Jing monitors social media trends in her home country of China. Here, Jing provides a fascinating analysis of how China's new media landscape is modernizing local culture and politics.

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Journalism Program Offers Alum New Perspective

IFP Egypt Alumnus Ehab Hamdi Gomaa Megahed received his master’s in Journalism from the American University in Cairo in 2007. Ehab shares thoughts on the personal and cultural significance of his visit to the U.S. through the Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists.

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Alumni publish "The Memories of Our Hands"
In their new book, IFP Alumni Wang Xiaomei and Wang Jianping explore the life and work of traditional batik artists Li Mei and Yang Mei. Along the way, the authors discover how China's new markets have affected the artists' relationship to their traditional Maio village.

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Fellow interviewed on "Tonight Show" in Thailand

A dedicated child advocate now earning her M.Ed in Educational Administration, IFP Fellow Utis Somjai shared her work with a wide audience when she was interviewed on Thai television.

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Luu Thi Anh Loan: VIETNAM

Although Luu Thi Anh Loan's parents had limited educational opportunities, they supported their daughter's dream for higher education, despite her physical disability. Today, Loan is working towards her master's in Social Work at Washington University.

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Fellow Attends Commission on Status of Women

Ghanaian Fellow Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie attended the 56th UN Commission on the Status of Women as a delegate from the School for International Training (SIT), where her passion for disability rights has been an eye-opener on campus. 

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IFP Celebrates International Women's Day

Whether they are combatting violence against women, supporting Egyptian children during social and political upheaval, or exploring female identity through the arts, these alumni highlight the possibilities for social justice when we support equity and access in higher ed.

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In Remembrance

The IFP family recently lost two of our alumni. Guatemalan alumna Maria del Rosario Alfaro and Vietnamese alumnus Hoang Trong Nghia used their skills and knowlege to build cooperation between governments, NGOs, and citizens working for sustainable development.

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Mario Ávalos Quispal: GUATEMALA

"My culture - my values and worldview - constitutes the axis of my life." IFP Alumnus Mario Ávalos Quispal shines a light on the path that led an indigenous Mayan boy from primary school to higher education and ultimately, a career in human rights and justice.

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Dennitah Ghati: KENYA

Dennitah Ghati was born into a pastoral tribe in Kenya’s Kuria district, where sociocultural norms can sometimes deny women agency over their own lives. She knew early on that education was the key to her future, and to promoting the rights of women and girls at home.

 

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Nigerian Alumnus wins Courage in Journalism Award

While Nigerians flood the streets of Lagos to protest fuel prices and government corruption, IFP Alumnus Musikilu Mojeed continues to earn recognition for his fearless investigation into the politics of oil in his country.

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At UN Climate Talks, Highly Trained Women are Critical

In the last installment of our series on climate change, we invite you to read an article featuring IFP Alumna Abidah Setyowati and Executive Director Joan Dassin. The piece appeared in Women’s Media Center online at the close of the Durban Conference.  

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Alexander Levashov: RUSSIA

Many of us are familiar with peace cranes, but IFP Alumnus Alexander Levashov takes the art of origami to a new level. Together with his wife, he uses this traditional Japanese craft to heal, educate, and promote peace-building and cultural understanding worldwide.

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Michelle Obama Presents Award to IFP Alum

IFP Alum Muhammad Zamzam Fauzanafi is co-founder of Kampung Halaman, a youth media organization based in Indonesia. Zamzam recently traveled to the White House, where the First Lady presented Kampung Halaman with a President's Committee Arts and Humanities Award.

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Climate Change: Seeing the World Through Others

Michael C. Canares is a finance expert and professor with a master's in Development Studies from the London School of Economics. In the second article for our series on climate change, he explores the power of a collective voice for people and the environment.

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Day of the International Student

On November 12th, students from around the world gathered at the Hague to celebrate Day of the International Student 2011, organized by our partners at NUFFIC. Winarto, a blogger and IFP Fellow, shares his impressions of the event. Photographs by IFP Vietnam Fellow Nam Do Pham.

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Mohamed Altawil: PALESTINE

Mohamed Altawil is a clinical psychologist, professor, and founder of the Palestine Trauma Centre for Victims' Welfare in Gaza. A mental health advocate for families suffering the effects of war, he recounts his challenging journey from childhood to a PhD...and beyond.

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Alumna Wins "International Campaigner" Award

Caroline Lentupuru , a Kenyan alumna who earned her master’s degree in International Development from Clark University, has won a prestigious award from the Sheila McKechnie Foundation for her work on behalf of Maasai girls in her local community.

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Dr. Riziki Ponsiano: TANZANIA

Meet Dr. Rifiki Ponsiano: health practitioner, scholar, and passionate community organizer. Rifiki has designed groundbreaking health initiatives for women in Tanzania, using creative approaches to end maternal and infant mortality in his country.

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Nigerian Fellows meet Sultan of Sokoto

IFP Fellows Yohanna Pam and Ernest Ogbozor are both studying for their masters' in Sustainable Development at Brandeis University. On October 3rd, they attended a lecture at Harvard University, where they discussed peace-building at home, with input from a special guest.

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A Little Fortune Amid the Flood

The second in our series on climate change, this report comes from IFP Fellow Chen "Rochan" Liang who shares the latest from Thailand, where flood waters continue to rise. In his piece, Rochan recognizes the important role now being played by his local IFP Program Officer.

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IFP Alum Exhibits Work at Solo Show in New Delhi

Known for his abstract visualization of Hindi, Sanskrit, Panjabi, and English texts and scriptures, IFP alumnus and painter Jagmohan Bangani is exhibiting his new solo show,"Scriptural Enchantment," through October 24th in New Delhi. 

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Rolando Mesias: PHILIPPINES

Rolando Mesias graduated from the School for International Training (SIT) in 2009 with a master's degree in Service, Leadership, and Management. An experienced Cooperative Manager, Rolando faced unexpected challenges when he came home to the Philippines. 

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IFP Alum Wins 2011 Future Minds Award

IFP Mexico alum Rodrigo Perez Ramirez received a 2011 Future Minds Award recognizing his achievements in technology for social impact. Originally from Oaxaca, Rodrigo is working to translate the Mozilla Firefox browser for the Zapotec community where he grew up.

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Russian Alumni Promote Inclusive Education

A few months ago, our Russian alumni organized and led a major session at the 3rd Baikal Educational Forum in the Buryatia Republic, where the topic of inclusive education for people with disabilities is gaining new ground. Julia Sukhenko and Rayma Saryaeva sent this report.

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In Asia, Alumni Tackle Climate Change Together

To begin our feature series on climate change, IFP alumna Elis Anis, leader of the Indonesian Social Justice Network (ISJN), reports on the remarkably successful international climate change conference in Yogyakarta, the first of its kind to be organized solely by IFP alumni.

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Nigerian Alum Accepts Fellowship in India

IFP alum Joseph Effiong graduated from the School for International Training (SIT) with a degree in Sustainable Development. The recipient of a prestigious fellowship at Appejay Stya University, he is now sharing his research and knowledge with colleagues in India. 

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Ajoke Alonge: NIGERIA

Ajoke Alonge completed her master's degree in Social Work from the University of Denver. Now she is a leading disability advocate in Nigeria, where she works at the largest hospital in Africa, and promotes leadership initiatives, media campaigns, and empowerment activities.

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First Brazilian to Win Rainforest Alliance Award

F. Kennedy Souza has been named "Steward of the Forest" by the Rainforest Alliance. The first Brazilian to win this recognition, the Alliance predicts he'll contribute directly to the well-being of 9,000 families and 2.96 million acres of forests in Western Amazonia.

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Thailand Alumni Network meets in Khon Kaen Province

At this summer's Thai Alumni Network meeting, Fellows and Alumni recognized each other's academic successes, and explored how to build partnerships and transfer knowledge to the next generation of social justice leaders.

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Scholars: Reach a Broader Audience for Social Change

IFP recently spoke with Bill Tyson, author and media relations expert, about how scholars can use both traditional and social media to reach a broader audience and increase the social impact of their research. Q & A inside...

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Alum Publishes Short Story Collection

Indonesian alumna Rilda Taneko received a master’s degree in Gender and Development from the Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands. Today she is the author of a new short story collection called Morning Train to The Hague.

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Xu Xuejun: CHINA

Xu Xuejun is a poverty alleviation specialist in the Yunnan Province, where he ensures that local villagers have a voice in the design of anti-poverty projects in their communities. Learn how behavioral change can be a rewarding path to social change.

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Origins, Journeys, and Returns in Africa

This Spring, the IFP family in Africa celebrated a decade of fellowships during Executive Director Joan Dassin's visit to the continent. Throughout her stay, fellows, alumni and staff from multiple regions gathered to recognize the highly successful ten year project.

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James Kityo: UGANDA

Winner of a 2010 Philips Liveable Cities Award, IFP Alum James Kityo turns every challenge into a possible solution. Learn about his innovative public health initiatives in Uganda, and why he has "fallen in love with problems".

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MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE WORLD: Alumni Join RIA Novosti for Future Media Forum

IFP alumna Nadezhda Khlebnikova is attending Moscow State University, where she is working on a master’s degree in Journalism. Here, she reports on the recent Future Media Forum, where IFP alumni represented media makers from around the world.

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Alumni in Egypt Remain Committed to Social Change

In recent days, the unforgettable euphoria from Tahrir Square in early 2011 has given way to more upheaval. But social movements require persistence. Find out how IFP alumni are using history, art, and film to redefine and restore their nation.

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IFP Fellow's First Short Film Wins Award

IFP South Africa Fellow Lekgetho James Makola is working towards a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film at Washington D.C.'s Howard University. His first-ever student project, a short film called Transmission, was recognized at the 2011 Annual Paul Robeson Awards with an award for Best Actor, and Honorable Mentions for Editing and Sound Design.

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Dr. Willy Mutunga: Kenya's next Chief Justice?

Human rights advocate and Ford Foundation Representative Dr. Willy Mutunga - pictured above - has been nominated sole candidate for Kenya's new Chief Justice. A remarkable achievement, his pending confirmation is also the subject of fierce debate. IFP Fellow Raphael Obonyo explains why. 

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Ecoblogy Shines Light on Power of Citizen Media

With a range of advanced environmental degrees, IFP Fellows and Alumni are proving their commitment to a greener world. That commitment sprang into action on April 18th, when IFP Russia joined forces with Russia’s leading multimedia news agency to co-host the first EcoBlogy Forum in Moscow.

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Guihong Zhang: CHINA

 IFP alum Guihong Zhang received his master's degree in Resource Management and Administration from Antioch University in 2005. Today he is Manager of the Wildlife Trade Program at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WSC) in China, where he designs outreach campaigns.

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Alum Wins Outstanding Science Scholar Award

The Loyola School at Ateneo de Manila University has awarded IFP Philippines alum Margarita Lavides the 2011 Outstanding Scholarly Work for Science and Engineering.

Her paper was recently published in the Cambridge Journal of Environmental Conservation.

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Disaster Response: An IFP Fellow Reports from Japan

IFP China Fellow Liao Hanbo was in Japan as a visiting scholar at the University of Tokyo when the earthquake and tsunami hit in March 2011. In this compelling article, he compares the disaster response in Japan with that of China immediately following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. 

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Rosana Paulino: BRAZIL

As a Ford Fellow, Rosana Paulino earned her PhD in Public Arts from Sao Paolo University in 2008. Today, she is a leading contemporary artist in Brazil. Using mixed media, Rosana deconstructs, explores, and reimagines the black woman's experience in Brazilian society throughout history.

 

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IFP Alum Published in Jakarta Post

IFP Alum Wawan Sobari received his master’s in Development Studies in 2006, and has since been published in the Jakarta Post several times. His most recent article explores local governments’ abuse of social assistance funds as reported by Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission.

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Joan Dassin Receives NAFSA Award

We are proud to announce that IFP Executive Director Joan Dassin has been named as the recipient of this year's

Marita Houlihan Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Field of International Education.

The award was presented to Dr. Dassin on Wed, June 1st by NAFSA: Association of International Educators at their annual conference, which took place in Vancouver this year. With nearly 10,000 members, NAFSA is the world's largest nonprofit professional association dedicated to international education.

Dr. Dassin is proud to accept this award as recogniition for the outstanding contribution of IFP in providing educational opportunities to thousands of social change leaders from around the world.

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