Joseph McKeen
Center for the Common Good

Maggie Acosta '16 will spend June and July of 2013 working with Expand Peru in the mountains of Huancayo, Peru.  This organization provides shelter, emotional support, and education to families struggling with AIDS. Expand Peru emphasizes improving healthcare and teaching English to its residents as well fostering a strong and supportive community. Maggie plans to volunteer with the Center's healthcare professionals, teach English in the classroom, and advance sustainability through planting a community garden.

Evan Bulman '16 will spend June and July of 2013 in Kabala, Sierra Leone working with Salone Enabling and Empowering Development International (SEED). This organization works to provide both medical services for the region and the means for future economic expansion. During his time with this organization, Evan plans to help develop an agricultural project which will fund their healthcare goals, and to create an extracurricular study group for high need students (orphans, children of amputees, etc..) whose educations SEED currently funds.

Jeff Cuartas '14 will spend the summer of 2013 working in Beijing, China with Beijing LGBT Center. The Beijing LGBT center is the only of its kind that aids this underserved demographic by providing health education, counseling services, and promoting advocacy. Jeff will be working closely with the Director of Development—utilizing his past internship experiences to expand fundraising, review grant applications, and manage donor databases. Additionally, he will participate in workshops to facilitate his understanding of LGBT issues in China.

Will Horne '14 will be volunteering in Plaboo Village, Thailand with the Farmer Community School. This school serves as an educational center in the Isan region of Northeast Thailand. The village comprises roughly 80 families and the rural community is rooted in rice farming. The school reaches out for volunteers who want to help integrate English into the students' everyday lives in both academic and social settings. Will will participate in programming at the after school program centered around English and general volunteering around the village during his 90 day stay.

Marcus Karim '14 will be spending this summer working with Changes for New Hope in Huaraz, Peru. Since its start in 2009, Changes for New Hope has been working to improve the educational, economic, and health conditions of local children and their families. During his summer with the organization, Marcus hopes to help the children develop a deep sense of worth, integrity, and potential in themselves through education lessons, art projects, and character building activities. Additionally, Marcus hopes to pilot a public health initiative in the local community to promote the health and general welfare needs of the community.

Marble Karuu '14 will be spending this summer in Iten, Kenya working with the Kenya Scholar-Athlete Project.  KenSAP works to assist top scholars from disadvantaged backgrounds attain opportunities for higher education in the United States. As a KenSAP instructor, she will help conduct SAT and TOEFL prep courses and act as a resource and guide for the scholars throughout their college application process. Furthermore, Marble will also be involved with the organization’s secondary objective to inspire a passion for running within their students who generally come from a region in Kenya well known for its talented runners. The overall goal of the program however is to produce excellent candidates worthy of admission to America’s top colleges and universities.