Fellows

Adriana is a researcher from Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, with eight years of experience in the non-profit and international cooperation sector. She earned a Master ‘s in Communication from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, as well as a B. A. in Sociology from Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Her work has been focused on the development of monitoring and evaluation tools of different types of public policy directed to vulnerable people and groups for nearly a decade. She has knowledge and experience of intercultural communication, particularly in relation to the ethnic and gender approaches for the attention and reparation of conflict victims.

Adriana has developed participatory tools and other research methodologies for the assessment of public policy that broadly fits into development and more specifically into peacebuilding and transitional justice. Through her experience in international aid, especially OIM, MSI, and FAO, where she has worked with topics as varied as rehabilitation and satisfaction measures, climate change, ethnic justice, public health, land restitution and food security, she has engaged with different conflict-affected regions.

Adriana has volunteered as a support link in the Colombian Red Cross during emergency situations, such as floods and earthquakes, in the Caribbean region and is trained in first aid assistance. Through these experiences, she developed strong research and communication skills in widely varied cultural contexts, allowing her to quickly develop rapport while implementing projects on the field. Adriana enjoys focusing on research with communities for peace building and policymaking, and has a passion for advocating for human rights and women empowerment.

Host Organization: American Red Cross

Role at Host Organization: As a Research and Engagement Fellow, Adriana will work under the Knowledge Management Program Manager to conduct and coordinate research and learning activities of the Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC). The fellow will gain hands-on experience in qualitative and quantitative research activities relating to disaster preparedness and cutting-edge technology innovations, as well as knowledge management, information dissemination, and learning outcomes. In addition, the fellow will assist with outreach and engagement with Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and external partners to help raise the profile of GDPC’s work. An interest in and basic knowledge of disaster preparedness and international humanitarian assistance is essential and experience working in or with the Red Cross is preferred. Our fellows work alongside us as integrated members of the GDPC to carry out professional level work in a supervised atmosphere.

Andrea studied architecture in Los Andes University, with a minor in Asian Studies and Language and Italian Culture. Then she did complementary courses in Project Management and Finances in the same university. Andrea worked as a fellow with Atlas Service Corps in 2008 and worked in Washington DC in an organization called Think Impact, as International Development Officer. In 2009 she coordinated the Global Development Ambassadors program in South Africa. In 2010 Andrea came back to Colombia and she founded Heart for Change, a nonprofit organization that designs and implements social impact projects through volunteerism and citizen participation in Colombia and Latin America .

HFC has since mobilized more than 2.000 volunteers to Colombia and has partnerships with the Ministry of Education (MEN), the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism (MINCIT), The International Cooperation Agency from the Presidency (APC), The National Training Service (SENA), PNUD, Embassy of Sweden, Purpose, among others. Andrea has worked as a representative in Colombia and a consultant for Partners of the Americas, ITDP and Ventures, and she was selected in 2015 for Gerente Magazine as one of the 100 most influential leaders in the Colombian society, in the category of nonprofits and social activists. She loves animals and reading.

Host Organization: Student Movement for Real Change / ThinkImpact

Andrés has four years of experience working with nonprofit social organizations. He holds a Postgraduate Degree in Conflict Resolution from Javeriana University and a Master of Arts in Gender and Peacebuilding from the United Nations-mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica. Andrés has participated extensively in movements advocating international disarmament, disability rights, and nonviolent action and peacebuilding. In particular, his work addresses the differential needs and circumstances of women, men, girls and boys during conflict, war, and humanitarian crises. Andrés is a certified psychologist and has provided psycho-social rehabilitation services for over 400 landmine survivors and other victims of violence. Additionally, he has worked in victim assistance for internally displaced persons and facilitated conflict resolution workshops for the reintegration of ex-combatants. Andres is particularly interested in conflict resolution, landmine removal, internal displacement, and the prevention of gender-based violence.

Host Organization: International Peace and Security Institute (IPSI)

Lina has three years of experience in the nonprofit sector working on public-private strategic alliances. She earned a Bachelor´s Degree in International Relations from the Rosario University, and a Specialization in International Cooperation and Development Projects. With a deep interest in the development field and corporate social responsibility, she worked to build alliances with companies and institutions to promote health, education, and economic development projects, and also worked on a fundraising plan. As a specialized professional in the international cooperation field, she contributed in the completion of strategies to achieve the NGO mission: Overcome Poverty in Latin America. Previously, Lina worked to promote the private sector’s contribution to the community in coordination with a IT recycling company that works for inclusion of the recyclers community, building bonds between them and big companies.After finishing college, Lina helped to create a NGO that promotes de volunteering programs and education projects for tribal communities in Amazonas, Colombia.

Host Organization: America Solidaria

 Role at Host Organization: Lina will support the Executive Director in activities related to raising funds and contributing to the sustainability of the organization. America Solidaria currently operates with a very small team and Lina will be key in making sure crucial fundraising and communications tasks are accomplished as the organization becomes more established in the U.S. She will be focusing on developing corporate partnerships, supporting grant-writing endeavors, and managing communications related to donor and partner cultivation and maintenance.

Sergio has worked in both the public and private sectors for over three years. In 2005, he joined the Salesian Society to work in the Juan Bosco Obrero Center as a business development coordinator for the Office of Entrepreneurship, and is currently working there as a consultant. This social sector organization works with the most vulnerable populations in Bogotá, located in the most depressed and dangerous city sector, known as Ciudad Bolívar. Sergio assists with the formation, creation and support of entrepreneurship initiatives of vulnerable populations, fundraising and project planning for community development programs, and the political empowerment of young people. Prior to working with the Salesian Society, Sergio was a strategic analyst at the National Ministry of Defense where he helped write intelligence reports about the socio-economic consequences of the Colombian conflict. He has been invited to speak at several conferences, most recently at the Young Population and Productivity Issues Forum in Bogotá in 2006. Sergio was a member of the Local Productive Chamber in Cuidad Bolívar and the Student Superior Council at the Universidad del Rosario. Sergio holds a B.A. in international relations from the Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá.

Host Organization: Mobilize.org

Victoria has five years of experience in public information and project development in the international cooperation and nonprofit sector. Victoria holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Journalism from Universidad de la Sabana, Colombia, and a Master’s degree in Media, Peace and Conflict Studies from the United Nations Mandate University for Peace. Victoria has worked on multiple USAID funded projects and has experience with multilateral organizations and agencies including the Organization of American States (OAS) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). As Communications Officer for USAID’s Access to Justice Program in Colombia, Victoria was responsible for information and outreach activities in four conflict stricken regions where she implemented virtual training courses for justice sector operators on human rights and provided access to justice for vulnerable communities. She interned for UNHCR in Costa Rica during her Master studies. More recently, Victoria participated in the OAS Internship Program in Washington D.C. and volunteered for the International Center on Religion and Democracy (ICRD). In the academic field, Victoria has worked as adjunct professor at Universidad de la Sabana teaching undergraduate students to design communication strategies for local social development projects. He will put a) Put together monthly expense reports

Host Organization: Atlas Corps

Role at Host Organization: Victoria will support the work of the Chief Development & Engagement Officer to raise the profile of the organization to better share the story of Atlas Corps with the purpose of increasing the pool of potential Host Organization and individual candidates and leveraging additional funding opportunities. Victoria will strengthen and practice skills in the implementation, evaluation and expansion of the Atlas Corps external presence as included in our communications and public relations strategy.