Global Scholars 2020/21

In their address to the Club Monday 25 January 2021 Leena Hornlein and Natasha Oviedo, the Global Scholars being hosted by the Club whilst studying for their MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at QUB, gave a highly detailed exposition of their backgrounds, study, interests and future plans. Both scholars spoke extremely well holding the rapt attention of members with addresses peppered with infectious enthusiasm. They highlighted their enjoyment being in NI and answered as many questions as the time allowed.

Leena from Gilbert, a town in Maricopa County, Arizona (where she is currently) took her undergraduate degree at the University of Wyoming. She revealed her professor had been a profound influence engendering an interest in post-conflict resolution and one of her classes featured a lecturer from QUB. She highlighted the broad scope of her Semester modules and classes at QUB and advised she was particularly interested in museum policies, indigenous identities quantitative studies. She noted that online studies pose challenges particularly for group discussions but she was enjoying her experiences, Rotaract friendships and service projects and was looking forward to her imminent return to Belfast when she hopes to fulfil her bucket list seeing more of places in Ireland. She hopes in the future to follow a quantitative research career with a post in a non-profit organisation such as the UN, an Environmental Policy Group or working with an indigenous community.

Natasha from Sierra Madre, a city in Los Angeles County, California revealed before undertaking her undergraduate degree in History and Environmental Systems and Society at UCLA lived in Ecuador and spent time at university there. She noted that she has been in Belfast since September and was intent from the beginning to get involved with the community and is actively involved with Horn of Africa People's Aid NI providing of refurbished laptops to refugees in NI, was Interning with the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building, was a volunteer with Mediators beyond Borders International planning the Ecuador 2021 International Peace Congress and, with other Rotaractors in Ireland & the UK, a member of the Rotaract E-Club. She is enjoying her classes and extending her languages. Although open-minded about where her future might lie she would particularly like to work in International Mediation, felt privileged to be in NI and was very appreciative of the kindness shown.