Ten undergrads selected to be CollegeCorps interns

CollegeCorps, a nonprofit organization founded by Hani N. Elias ’05 and Adam Kalamchi ’05, recently announced that 14 Boston-area undergraduates have been selected to participate in the CollegeCorps Intern program. These students, who will be traveling to Bolivia, Ecuador, India, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, South Africa, or Uganda, represent the second class of interns under the new initiative, endorsed by the United Nations Development Program and supported by the Harvard University Committee on Human Rights Studies, the United Nations, and the New England Regional Peace Corps office. 

Of the 14 students selected to participate in the program, 10 are from Harvard. They are: Christina Angelides ’06, Eleanor Broh ’08, Akash Goel ’07, Noah Hertz-Bunzl ’08, Jane Kim ’05, Sarah Kinsella ’07, Karen Lo ’05, Hani Malone ’05, Ken McKinley ’08, and Lauren Sancken ’05.

The public will have the opportunity to follow the interns online at http://www.thecollegecorps.org. There, participants will post journal entries that speak of the hardships of volunteerism, share lessons learned, and engage in a dialogue with those interested in international development.

Program participants were selected based on demonstrated leadership abilities, “a real and strong desire” to contribute to international development efforts, and exceptional academic accomplishment. Nearly 100 students applied for positions in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

CollegeCorps interns experience an academic dimension that is rarely emphasized in other international service programs. As part of their application, undergraduates must identify a faculty adviser whom they will work with in outlining an academic project to be completed during their overseas service. Furthermore, the participants engage in weekly training sessions that attract renowned experts in international development, including Paul Farmer, professor at Harvard Medical School and founder of Partners in Health; Stephen Marks, director of the Center for Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health; Richard Cooper, professor of international economics at Harvard University; and Jeff Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and special adviser to the U.N. Secretary General.

Recognizing that the financial aspects of international service often burden undergraduates, CollegeCorps provides need-based scholarships. This year, more than $55,000 in grants were awarded to participants. These financial awards were made possible by the generosity of local business, philanthropists, and foundations, including ArQule Inc., the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Gregory C. Carr Foundation.

“We are very fortunate to attract such a dedicated group of students,” said CollegeCorps CEO and founder Hani Elias. “They’re ready to learn from the opportunity to participate in international development efforts, and are looking forward to sharing their findings with their peers when they return,” added Elias.