Alumni of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) foster mutual understanding by sharing their talents, knowledge, experience, and time with their host communities in the U.S. Shared below are brief updates on what a select group of alumni have accomplished during their semester abroad. Congratulations, Hamza Zaman, Moizza Salahuddin, Khadija Butt, Sabeen Ashraf, Humas Tahir Sindhu, Abdul Rauf, Naqsh Nasir, Uzair Ibrahim, Bhawish Raj, and Hira Abdul Aziz on your success – you make us proud!
Promoting disability inclusion: At the University of Wisconsin – Stout, Hamza Zaman created a toy (The Hulk, above) to help children between the ages of 2 and 6 years old with learning delays, and to enhance their cognitive skills.
Strengthening communities and promoting interfaith harmony: Moizza Salahuddin at Creighton University organized an interfaith event to highlight a tenet that all world religions share: feeding the needy in their communities. The event (flyer above) is similar to a free, communal meal (langar) served for free to visitors in many parts of South Asia.
Supporting interfaith dialogue: At Kansas State University, Khadija Butt and Sabeen Ashraf (center, above) were selected as panelists at an Inter-religious and Inter-Belief Dialogue on campus. Not only were they among the youngest panelists to participate, but also the only Muslim women representatives.
Community and civic engagement: Humas Tahir Sindhu was recently featured in Pittsburg State University’s campus newspaper about his active participation in community and civic engagement projects while studying in Kansas. Read the complete article here. Above, Humas Sindhu serves food while volunteering at the Lord’s Diner.
Strengthening understanding of public administration and policy: Abdul Rauf (above, right), at University of St. Francis met with the Mayor of Joliet, Illinois, Bob O’Dekirk (left), and discussed a number of topics pertaining to the inner-workings of the local government, including what Abdul could to do to support his host community in Joliet.
Promoting leadership skills and diversity: At Emporia State University, Naqsh Nasir participated in a weekend retreat with the national leadership organization ‘Mosaic,’ which teaches students leadership skills and strengthens bonds between a diverse student body. Naqsh Nasir poses with Mosiac student leaders (above) from seven colleges and universities across Kansas and Missouri.
Strengthening understanding of public administration and policy: At the University of New Mexico, Uzair Ibrahim (above, first from left) joined other international students on a visit to the New Mexico State Legislature for University of New Mexico Day. He learned about federal and state laws, and how legislative processes function in the U.S.
Strengthening understanding of public administration and policy: Bhawish Raj (above, left), studying at Florida State University, met with Zil Giffer (right), the Mayor Pro-Tempore of Tallahassee, Florida.
Meeting with leaders in my community here influenced me to be a better leader in my community [at home] and have a deep understanding of the difference between a leader and a boss.” Global UGRAD alumnus, Bhawish Raj (Florida State University)
Strengthening community engagement: Hira Abdul Aziz at Bridgewater State University attended a meeting with the town council of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where she gave a formal presentation about the culture and economic systems of Pakistan. The Town Manager, Michael Dutton, along with the rest of the town council also participated in a short Urdu lesson. Hira (center, above) is joined by Mr. Dutton (second, from left) and the town council members.
While the current application cycle for the Global UGRAD is closed, this should not discourage you from visiting the USEFP website for details on next year’s competition which opens in October 2017. Learn more about the program here.
