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Speaking from Experience: Fellow Videos

Nadia Rahman, Nigeria

Eric Wise, Kenya

Anne-Claire Benoit, Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

 

“My fellowship was extremely successful. I was allowed to function as a program manager for much of the year, under the mentorship of my supervisor, and now I feel very confident and ready to step into my new role and manage a team.”

 

Blogs Excerpts And Photos

  • Erin La Croix
    Malawi Fellow
    (SIT Graduate Institute)

    Malawi Fellow Erin La Croix supporting the CRS WASH team in the implementation of an Emergency WASH Response in Southern Malawi

    Following the devastating floods in Malawi, fellow and School for International Training Graduate Institute alumna Erin La Croix supported the CRS WASH team implementing emergency response in 26 camps for displaced people in Southern Malawi. Our response ensured that people had access to safe drinking water and sanitation while in the camps. CRS also supported safe hygiene practices in the camps.

    Over the last 4 months, I have gained immense hands-on experience in emergency WASH programming, partner collaboration and management, as well as working closely with the donor to develop and update program budgets and interventions.

    Thank you to the CRS Malawi WASH team for this invaluable experience which I hope to build upon during my temporary duty in Bangladesh.

    — Erin

    Learn more about the work CRS is doing in Malawi

“I appreciated CRS' organizational culture of continuous learning. This made it easy for me to admit and correct my mistakes when I made them, and also ensured that the people on my team were willing to question things and have conversations about complex issues.”

 

  • Jerica Youngken
    Rwanda Fellow
    (Fordham University)

    Jerica with Janvier, the food security team leader, and a coffee grower, right, in the Keurig Green Mountain project, who shows one of his crop seedlings. The project helps farmers improve agriculture and business practices to grow their livelihoods.
    Jerica with Janvier, the food security team leader, and a coffee grower, right, in the Keurig Green Mountain project, who shows one of his crop seedlings. The project helps farmers improve agriculture and business practices to grow their livelihoods.

    Rwanda fellow Jerica Youngken was interviewed by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference about her experiences overseas as a fellow.

    The beauty of the fellowship program is that we [the fellows] are exposed to many different areas of programming and operations, enabling us to gain a true sense of what we would like to pursue after the fellowship ends.

    — Jerica

    Read more about her experiences.

  • Angie Tyler
    Benin Fellow
    (Johns Hopkins SAIS)

    Angie Tyler with the participants of a project that offers health insurance to SILC participants in Northern Benin.
    Angie Tyler with the participants of a project that offers health insurance to SILC participants in Northern Benin.

    CRS Benin fellow and Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies alumna Angie Tyler meets with St. Joseph Health Center staff to discuss health insurance for rural populations participating in mature Savings and Internal Lending Communities, or SILCs.

     

  • Daniel Pasquini
    Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza Fellow
    (DePaul University)

    Local herders, partner organization staff and CRS staff after completing training on constructing contour walls for soil and water conservation. Fellow Daniel Pasquini-Salazar is second from right.
    Local herders, partner organization staff and CRS staff after completing training on constructing contour walls for soil and water conservation. Fellow Daniel Pasquini-Salazar is second from right.

    In response to the threats to the livelihoood of herder families posed by political, environmental, and economic challenges, Daniel has helped CRS partner with a local organization to design and implement the Soil and Water Conservation for Herders (SWCH) project

    As a CRS fellow, the SWCH project was one of my first assignments. There are numerous INGOs that do similar development work around the globe, but CRS distinguishes itself in this arena by our commitment to subsidiarity; allowing for decisions on key aspects of the project to be directly informed by those people closest to the issues “on the ground.”

    — Daniel

    Read more about Daniel’s experience.

“I was responsible for partnership agreements, budgets, work plan development, donor reporting and monitoring progress. This gave me the opportunity to prove myself.”

 

  • Michelle Marland
    Laos Fellow
    (Monterey Institute of International Studies)

    Michelle with mothers of disabled children at community-based rehabilitation training in Xaibouathong district, Khammouane province.
    Michelle with mothers of disabled children at community-based rehabilitation training in Xaibouathong district, Khammouane province.

     

  • Maggie Holmesheoran
    Jordan Fellow
    (Tufts University)

    Jordan fellow Maggie Holmesheoran managed a pilot project to streamline assistance by providing Syrian refugees access to prepaid debit cards.

    Indebtedness and issues with landlords have become serious social issues in Jordan due to overcrowding, as more than 80% of Syrian refugees in Jordan live in urban areas either with host families or in rented homes.

    When card users in this program could access their money independently, it improved their sense of self-confidence, and also made them feel more normal, which is really important for people who are in the midst of a crisis.

    — Maggie

    Read more about Maggie's experience.

     

  • Corrie Sissons
    Burkina Faso Fellow
    (University of London)

    Burkina Faso fellow Corrie Sissons at a Livestock Fair in Burkina Faso
    Burkina Faso fellow Corrie Sissons at a Livestock Fair in Burkina Faso

     

  • Julia Leis
    Philippines Fellow
    (Tufts University)

    Philippines fellow Julia Leis supported the Typhoon Hagupit response in Eastern Samar, assisting with distributions of shelter; water, sanitation and hygiene, and household kits.
    Philippines fellow Julia Leis supported the Typhoon Hagupit response in Eastern Samar, assisting with distributions of shelter; water, sanitation and hygiene, and household kits.

    Below is an excerpt from Julia’s blog about the year after her graduation from Tufts University.

    In my current work in the Philippines as a CRS fellow, where CRS has been working since 1945, I have worked with exceptionally talented Filipino and international colleagues in Manila, Davao, and Tacloban City. In Eastern Leyte and Samar, CRS is responding with shelter, WASH, and livelihoods programming after Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated the area in November 2013. I’ve supported multiple projects, including an urban disaster risk reduction program called SUCCESS—Strengthening Urban Communities Capacity to Endure Severe Shocks—in Metro Manila, and the Typhoon Hagupit emergency response in Eastern Samar in December 2014.

    — Julia

    Read more about Julia's work in the Philippines

     

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