Community Service: Rukhshona Sharipova

Community Service: Rukhshona Sharipova

I spent my Global UGRAD exchange semester at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina. Due to my strong interest in migration, global development, and humanitarian assistance, I volunteered for the Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program as a community mentor and English language tutor for a refugee family from Africa. By working for the Immigration and Refugee Program, I …

Summer Camp America in Tajikistan

Summer Camp America in Tajikistan

For the past three years, I spent my summer doing my favorite job: working with kids at Summer Camp America. This year, Summer Camp America was different. The application was open just for U.S. Government (USG)-sponsored programs alumni. Luckily, this year, I became a Global UGRAD alum and was accepted to participate. This year’s Summer Camp was in Sarband and Khovaling, Tajikistan. At Summer Camp …

My Person: Global UGRAD Students’ Closest Mentors and Friends

My Person: Global UGRAD Students’ Closest Mentors and Friends

It’s not easy leaving the familiarity of home to begin a new adventure in a foreign country. It takes courage, resilience, and a welcoming community. Luckily, our Global UGRAD students are adept at developing deep and lasting relationships with wonderful people who support and encourage them throughout this journey. Below, some students share with us a special someone who has …

Global UGRAD Fall 2017 University Site Visits

Global UGRAD Fall 2017 University Site Visits

This October, Will O’Roark had the opportunity to travel to the University of Connecticut – a new partner on the Global UGRAD Program. UConn is the largest university in the state and is home to over 23,000 students. The university is proud of its strong engineering program and its nationally recognized women’s and men’s basketball programs. In addition to meeting with university administrators and staff in the …

Global UGRAD Alumni Meet Up in Almaty, Kazakhstan by Will O’Roark

I had the opportunity to travel to Almaty, Kazakhstan and Dushanbe, Tajikistan at the end of September. Prior to joining World Learning, I spent several years living and working in Central Asia and Eurasia. I had worked as a university administrator at a number of institutions in Kazakhstan, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer teaching English in central Kazakhstan, and …

From Where I Stand part I | The Global UGRAD Photojournalism Project

One of our favorite sayings is “Once a UGRAD, always a UGRAD”. Even when the U.S. portion of the Global UGRAD experience is over, alumni are always a part of this big and talented family of impact. The lessons learned and knowledge gained during the exchange live on as alumni share their stories and dedicate efforts to shine brightly in …

Winter Break Tales

Of the 252 2016-17 Global UGRAD students, 33 remained in the United States over the winter holiday break at their host universities. Some stayed on campus and took the opportunity to volunteer in their host communities. For others, the break was an opportunity to travel to other cities and to visit family and/or friends not on campus. Here is a …