One World 2008 is designed to introduce Young Leaders to the international human rights and development fields. During the 8-week program, Young Leaders will intern with human rights and development organizations in the host countries. Our partner NGOs address issues around education, community development, women’s rights, land rights, governance and democracy.

One World 2008 will have service projects to Cambodia, India and Senegal.

One World Cambodia

David Pred is the Cambodian Country Director of Bridges Across Borders. Bridges Across Borders is the Coordinating NGO for One World Cambodia.

Bridges is an international collaboration of activists, artists, students, educators, and others who cherish cultural diversity and global peace. The collaboration of groups and individuals was formed to address the root causes of violence and hatred in the world, to examine the attitudes that cause us to view each other as enemies, and to seek understanding that allows us to appreciate each other as friends. Bridges believes we can teach peace and dissipate hate.

One World Young Leaders will be placed with one of the following Partner NGOs:

• Cambodia Center for Human Rights
• Tiny Toones
• Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions
• Bridges Across Borders
• Sovann Komar

One World India

The Country Coordinator for One World India 2008 is Lalit Khandare.

Lalit Khandare is a PhD student at Indiana University School of Social Work. His research is focused on civil society, education, and urbanization processes. He is presently working on a project on community and parental involvement in building peace and development among post conflict communities in Eastern Europe.

The partner NGO for One World India is the Rural Development Centre. RDC has been working in the area of Dalit rights for over 20 years. The organization believes that true freedom for the Dalit community will come through human rights and development principles that respect human dignity and the worth of each person.

The organization works it the areas of Children’s Rights, Women’s Rights, Education, Health and Land Rights.

Group Leader

Wilda Perez

Wilda was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. She speaks three languages fluently and while at Columbia University majored in economics, political science and French. She is currently pursuing a career in international development.

To read Wilda’s blog on One World India 2008 click here: Group Leader Wilda Perez’s Blog

Young Leaders

Adonita Ahmetaj

Adonita is an Albanian/Montenegrin Muslim who graduated from the nation’s first historically black college, Lincoln University, in May. She majored in English communications, and served as the Student Government Association president. Adonita is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

Caprice Gray

Caprice, who graduated from Yale University in May, has been accepted to Harvard University School of Public Health. She has been published in Sounds of this House and I Have Risen. She is a Ron Brown Scholar, and looks forward to serving as a Young Leader on the One World trip to India in the pursuance of Dalit rights.

Sarah Ghermay

Sarah spent much of her childhood in Ethiopia where she witnessed poverty and extreme oppression. After the Ethiopian-Eritrean Civil War many in her family became refugees, inspiring her to pursue a career in the non profit sector. She is currently an undergraduate at Cornell University majoring in Industrial and Labor Relations with a double minor in Inequality and Urban Studies.

Patrice Hawkins

Patrice is a rising senior at the University of Iowa. She is double majoring in history and political science. She plans on attending law school and volunteering with Teach for America before pursuing a government job in Washington, D.C.

Joshua Short

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 2005 through 2007, Joshua was featured in a documentary film about the New Orleans public school system. He has traveled to MIT, Harvard and LSU to speak to audiences after screenings. He received his GED in January of this year and is currently considering college or the military. Joshua is the One World 2008 Scholarship recipient.

Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy is a native of Detroit, Michigan. He graduated in May from Alabama A&M with a degree in political science and a minor in criminal justice. Jeremy is the fifth oldest of six children and the first in his family to graduate from college. He plans to pursue a career in politics

Rogers Youngblood

Rogers is from New Orleans, Louisiana . He has dedicated his life to positively changing the world. He works to change the education system in New Orleans.  He is also a musician, a poet, and edutainer (educator/entertainer). His goal in life is to use his success to inspire the dreams of many.

To read a recent article about Rogers in the Times Picayune, click here: Article on Rogers

Adey Zegeye

Adey was born in Ethiopia and graduated from the University of Mumbai. She has volunteered with the Salvation Army in Mumbai as a social worker, where she got interested in social justice. Currently, Adey is pursuing her Masters in sociology at the University of Mumbai.

One World Cambodia

We are pleased to introduce our Group Leader and Young Leaders for One World Cambodia 2008:

Group Leader

Heddy Nam

A native of Seoul, South Korea, Heddy’s experiences as an immigrant to the United States helped shape her desire to work for social justice and cross-cultural understanding. For the past eight years, she has been active in the fields of human rights, peacebuilding, and youth development both professionally and as a volunteer. She is thrilled to continue on this trajectory with the One World Foundation, where she can combine her passion for youth and education with her interest in human rights and international affairs.

Young Leaders

Akeema Anthony

Akeema, a rising junior at Hampton University, is majoring in political science and minoring in sociology. Both of her parents are from Trinidad and she has a strong sense of West Indian pride. She hopes to further her knowledge on Trinidadian history, culture, political infrastructure and education. Akeema has long term interests in pursuing human rights law on a global scale.

Caitlin Ho

Caitlin is a fourth generation Chinese-American. She’s a rising junior at Brown University and plans to study political science and ethnic studies. Caitlin’s interested in learning how communities of color can empower themselves and envisions a world in which their voices will be heard.

Hemly Ordonez

Hemly is a graduating senior from the Georgetown University Walsh School of Foriegn Service. She is receiving her degree in Science and Technology in International Affairs with a concentration on global health. She is the out-going program coordinator for the Georgetown University Women’s Center and the recipient of an Outstanding Senior award in recognition of her high leadership around diversity intiatives on campus.

Seashia Vang

Seashia is an art and journalism major at the University of Iowa. She is first generation Hmong-American whose parents were refugees that escaped the Vietnam/Secret War and were resettled in the United States in the late 70’s. Through her parents’ personal stories of lost, betrayal and tragedy Seashia seeks to ensure justice for all the oppressed.

To read Seashia’s blog from One World 2008 Cambodia click here: Young Leader Seashia Vang’s Blog

Marissa Gutiérrez-Vicario

Marissa is a graduate of the University of Southern California and is currently pursing her Master’s degree in Public Administration at NYU Wagner School. She deeply appreciates human rights, hip-hop, community organizing, pop culture, and piñata-making, and feels blessed whenever she has the opportunity to engage in activities involving any combination of them.

To read Marissa’s blog from One World 2008 Cambodia click here: Young Leader Marissa Gutierrez’s Blog