Empowering Women to Take Control of Health and Well-being

Health is defined by the WHO as, “a complete state of physical, social, mental and emotional well-being.” Being healthy is many aspects in one. But many think of one aspect over the other. For many women around the world, health, especially their overall well-being is overlooked, and even more so among women in rural areas in developing countries. Women are especially marginalized in societies where there is little that can be offered to them, with

Read more ...

Cultivating Development through Sports

Growing up, I can’t recall one time in which I was ever told there was something I couldn’t do or achieve.  As one of six children, with three sisters and two brothers, my immediate family has always been female heavy. My larger family seems to follow the same pattern, with strong, accomplished women far outnumbering men. Having grown up in such a matriarchal family, it was hard for me to imagine an environment in which

Read more ...

Look for the helpers: The changing look of volunteerism and the drive to help others

In response to bad things happening in the world, everyone’s favorite neighbor, Mister Rogers, used to say “Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping.”  It seems that now, more than ever, these words are a good piece of advice.  In this entry, I’d like to highlight the helpers of the world-helpers like Profugo-and the evolving ways in which everyone can provide service to others. Helping others, scientifically known as pro-social

Read more ...

Why Exactly is Food Important?

The intricacy of brush strokes on a canvas or the gentle sculpting of clay mirrors the art of a chifa chef skillfully preparing a dish. Consisting of a mixture of Chinese cooking styles and ingredients with Peruvian criollo cuisine, chifa is an encapsulation of the history of Chinese immigration in Peru and a symbol of the translation of Chinese culture in Peru. As art, food, in general, represents the sum of a larger history and

Read more ...

Cultivating the Future

Last spring semester I conducted research on development aid in Uganda, and I went in as a complete skeptic. I read articles and books written by world-renowned economists and political scientists and from there I formed my own opinions.  I decided that the amount of money given to developing countries was not producing any noticeable changes or benefits. These opinions were formed based on my understanding as an outsider viewing what was happening in developing

Read more ...