SUMMER 2009 PROJECTS

A flagship program of CUPID, Community Initiatives partner a multidisciplinary graduate student coalition with local communities working to achieve sustainable solutions for their development problems. Designed to be educational and experiential, these projects seek to combine student and local knowledge in a holistic development framework, creating long-term positive impact for students and communities alike.

The format of these projects is open-ended; it may involve sending a team for an extended stay on site in cooperation with an NGO, providing consulting services from here in New York, or some other cooperation. In all projects, CUPID aims to demonstrate how a multifaceted approach relying on diverse expertise produces superior results.

This year three separate workgroups have been created, Local Initiatives, Education and Training, as well as International Initiatives. Now there are more ways to get involved in the area that is of particular interest to you!

NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Global Potential
Global Potential (GP) is a non-profit organization that empowers low-income urban youth aged 16-21 to create positive change in their lives and communities.  With GP, "Challenges become Opportunities", and the philanthropic process is turned around: those who might typically receive help, learn how to use their own strengths and life experiences to help others and, in turn, themselves. For 12 weeks, youth participants engage in an intensive social entrepreneurship and leadership training program where they gain skills and knowledge that will prepare them to live and volunteer for six weeks in a rural village in the Dominican Republic where they engage in community service and internships, gaining practical experience with local professionals.
 The interns chosen will work with community members from poor rural Batey communities in the Dominican Republic, and with at-risk youth of high school age in two of Brooklyn’s high schools, International High School at Prospect Heights, and Bushwick’s Academy for Urban Planning.  We work closely with the adults in the youths lives, including parents, siblings, teachers, mentors, and other adult allies.  Within the Dominican Republic, the interns will work with a range of individuals ranging from Directors of NGOs, government and other public officials, local pastors, community leaders, youth, children, parents, and individual community members. This interdisciplinary project has already had CUPID’s interns and their positive experiences are the evidence of the great opportunity GP represents for all who want a professional internship for this coming summer.

Volunteers Colombia

VC is a young organization that is based in Cartagena, within the Department of Bolivar in the Caribbean region of Colombia. The Department of Bolivar is not only one of the poorest districts in the country, but also one of the districts with the most inequalities. Its main focus is to enhance a project called “English for Opportunities and Competitiveness”. Its name almost describes it. Teaching English to children in the community as an ongoing process throughout their years of education will allow them to compete more effectively in their region for jobs presenting them in the market as “skilled” workers.

The project is in a community that suffers from extreme poverty and is facing different social problems such as sexual abuse, early onset of sexual relations that lead to high numbers of teen pregnancy, and alcoholism. In this environment it is necessary to introduce an interdisciplinary approach as a complement of the educational focus. The internships offered will address these issues from the different perspectives making this project a very attractive option for an extraordinary professional summer experience.

Click here to download an application.


CoSMO Summer Intern/Coordinator position:
 
To all interested applicants:
CoSMO, Columbia's free student-run primary care clinic for uninsured patients, is now receiving applications for the "Summer Coordinator/Intern" position.  As CoSMO enters its fifth year, there are still many opportunities for the Summer Coordinator to help improve and expand the clinic and truly have an impact on the community.  The Summer Intern often combines the responsibilities of leading and managing clinic operations and a practicum or research project with a faculty preceptor.
 
Dates: 10 weeks, part-time
 
Stipend: $1500 or more depending upon grant applications.
 
Specific duties:

Assistance Program
***Note that CoSMO is in session on Saturdays and the second Thursday of the month.  The timing of weekly tasks is very flexible. ***
 
To apply, please submit a CV to mh2475@columbia.edu, along with a one paragraph statement
explaining your interest in the position. The application deadline is rolling. Interviews will be conducted and a final decision will be made as soon as possible.
 
For more info, visit www.cosmoprimarycare.org.  Feel free to contact Judy Griffin P&S 2011 (judith.griffin@gmail.com) with any questions. Judy served as the summer intern in 2008 and completed a research project on colorectal cancer screening at CoSMO.  She will be presenting her results at a student-run clinic conference this Spring.


To Learn more or to get involved, contact CUPID's Community Initiatives Co-VP's Ana Maria Rodriguez (amr2166@columbia.edu) or Andrea Bacher (alb2169@columbia.edu).