For Martha Berhane (IAFS ’14), her Global Grant study abroad scholarship took her to places she never expected. In fall 2013, Berhane went to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for a Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) study abroad program. Berhane interned with Community Service Alliance (CSA), an NGO in Santo Domingo that provides resources to local Dominican communities and works to expand access to healthcare and economic opportunities. Her internship gave her practical experiences working on outreach efforts to help low-income, unemployed families impacted by HIV to escape poverty. Berhane also gained career experience by teaching community members how to make business plans that encourage entrepreneurship as a means for financial self-sufficiency.
Along with her internship, she took courses at the Instituto Filosofico del Centro Bono, and spent Saturdays as a volunteer math tutor for children. Berhane rewarded herself after studying and interning by enjoying the flavorful Dominican cuisines, particularly a local favorite known as mofongo, a plantain-based dish.
Of her semester abroad, she most values the people she met: they taught her the importance of community building and personal determination to face life challenges. Most recently, Berhane accepted a position as an Immigration Paralegal Assistant with the Latino Justice Center in Washington, D.C., and she credits her study abroad experience as a career inspiration.