NEW YORK, June 24, 2021 – The Institute of International Education (IIE) today released a 4-episode podcast, “Between Two Worlds,” that explores the lasting impact Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP) alumni are having around the world.
The new podcast series spotlights a group of IFP alumni who have remained abroad after completing their fellowships. This small but powerful cohort brings a unique perspective in tackling global issues and advocating for social justice. Living around the world – from Boston to Barbados, Stockholm to Saudi Arabia – these individuals bring their expertise and dedication to implement social change regardless of where those communities are located.
Henry Omokwe Dang Oche-Otse from Nigeria studied international development at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Years later, he lives in the West Midlands of the United Kingdom and advocates for the rights of Syrian refugees seeking asylum to remain in the UK.
Rashmi Sharma from India obtained a master’s degree at Ohio State University in Communications and Development. Today, she is applying her past experiences in educating those living in geographically remote communities in India to her work with elementary students in the U.S., many of whom live in public housing, within a single-parent household or with foster parents.
Florence Apuri Auma from Uganda is currently based in Nigeria working in gender equality and human rights. She received her Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University. As a child, she lived in captivity with the Lord’s Resistance Army rebellion in northern Uganda. This experience drives her passion to address the needs of women and girls affected by violence.
In Between Two Worlds, Bridget Barry and Nora Nemeth aim to understand more about these alumni who chose to stay abroad and what motivates them on a personal and professional level. During the program, listeners gain a sense of why alumni chose not to return home after the Fellowship, how they stay deeply connected to their communities at home and what motivates them to continue working for social justice long after their Fellowships ended
“This is a new and exciting way for our study to capture the incredible work of the IFP alumni well beyond their Fellowships. Hearing the lived experiences from alumni themselves is informative and impactful,” said IFP Alumni Tracking Study Director Mirka Martel. “I’m incredibly grateful that our IFP fellows were willing to share their perspectives. I have no doubt that listeners will hear stories that resonate in their lives and with the issues they care deeply about.”
The full podcast can be accessed here.
To learn more about the International Fellowships Program (IFP) Alumni Tracking Study, visit here.
About the Institute of International Education
IIE was established in 1919 with the founding premise that international exchange could make the world a safer and more interconnected place. IIE works to build more peaceful and equitable societies by advancing scholarship, building economies and promoting access to opportunity. IIE collaborates with a wide range of corporate, government and foundation partners across the globe to design and manage scholarship, study abroad, workforce training and leadership development programs.
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