A Junior's Work is Never Done!
The livin' ain't easy over the summer for Juniors who are interested in applying for a Watson, but it will be rewarding. Now is the time to be researching projects, making contacts in your selected countries, and yes, even beginning to write drafts of your proposal and personal statement. If you need support and/or inspiration, be sure to contact Britt Anne Murphy.
Two Walker Fellows Announced for 2013-2014
Anna Broadwell-Gulde and Linh Chuong have been awarded $12,500 each to pursue their passions abroad as Walker Fellows. Anna will be traveling to India, Australia, Brazil, and Germany to examine the medicalization of yoga. Linh will travel to Thailand, Canada, Taiwan, and South Korea to observe the role of NGOs and governments in protecting refugees' rights for those involved in the Vietnamese diaspora. Follow Linh's journey on her blog.
Watson Fellowship Awarded to Hendrix Senior, Maia Yang!
Maia Yang was awarded a Watson Fellowship for 2013-2014. Below is her project description. Descriptions and bios of all the 2013-2014 Watson Fellows are available at the Watson Fellowship website.
Maia Yang
Sharing in their Stories: Microfinance from the Female Perspective
Bangladesh, Vietnam, Rwanda, Peru
Nobel Peace prize winner, Muhammad Yunus, began Grameen Bank in Bangladesh by loaning a small amount of money to a woman whom he trusted to repay him. Since its inception, microfinance has spread all over the world claiming success towards empowering women and alleviating issues of poverty. However, a 2012 systematic review of all literature pertaining to the effectiveness of microfinance was published with the critique that microfinance has thus far not proven to accomplish the goals it has set out to achieve. As a result, I hope to seek answers to this ineffectiveness by listening directly to the women involved with these institutions and by studying how each institution interacts with the local culture it has settled down in. During my Watson year, I hope to study two lines of thought as I travel through Bangladesh, Vietnam, Rwanda, and Peru. First, I will see how women involved with microfinance institutions view this capitalist financial model. I want to listen to their stories and learn about their cultures, trials, and triumphs. Secondly, I wish to seek a possible answer for microfinance's statistically researched ineffectiveness by studying the interconnected nature of culture with these institutions. My year will be spent connecting with women while attempting to understand the complicated nature of progressing towards equality for women and poverty alleviation.
Hendrix Watson Fellowship Home Page
Last Modified on 5/01/2013