�� - Uganda

Service Learning Trip to Uganda - Spring Break

sfine — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 13:13:13 +0000

Currently Unavailable

Uganda

Program Director(s):

Program dates are tentative and subject to change

This spring break service learning program to Uganda will offer students the opportunity to become familiar with the ISU programs and enable students to directly contribute to improving the quality of life of the people of Kamuli, particularly women and children. Students will spend several days working at primary schools and with local communities in the Kamuli District on agroforestry - establishing woodlots, creating school gardens, working with mothers and children on nutrition and health at Nutrition Education Centers, with livestock farmers on feeding and housing, and with post-harvest handling programs on food preservation and storage at schools.

3 credits of GLOBE 4960 or NREM 4960A during spring semester

This program is typically offered every spring break.

Important Note Regarding Missing Classes
Please note that participation on some travel courses require you to be away from campus for some school days. The College of Agriculture & Life Sciences tries to minimize the number of days missed for this purpose, but in some events, the inflexibility of the travel schedule prevents us from working completely within our breaks. Should you choose to enroll in a travel course that requires missing some class(es) on campus, you will need to contact your instructor directly to inquire whether or not arrangements can be made to make up this class work and/or exams. The CALS �� office can provide you with a letter explaining the dates of the trip. However, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor to determine the potential impact on your grade before signing up for a �� program. The instructor is responsible for determining the impact of any absence from class.

Thursday, March 13, 2025 to Monday, March 24, 2025

Department:

NREM, GLOBE

Type of Travel:

Travel Course

Application Deadline:

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Semester:

Spring

Learn more!

Year:

2025

Empowering Future Leaders in Sustainable Development through Service Learning in Rural Uganda - Summer 2025

nicolerh — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:33:57 +0000

Currently Unavailable

Uganda

Program Director(s):

Julie Blanchong

Catherine Swoboda

Program dates are tentative and subject to change

The “Empowering Future Leaders in Sustainable Development Through Service Learning in Uganda” program is designed to provide students with a unique opportunity to experience and contribute to a sustainable development project through a service learning experience in rural Uganda. This is an outstanding opportunity for students to live and work cross-culturally with Ugandan students from Makerere University. Students will develop leadership skills through team-oriented teaching along with development and implementation of projects at schools in rural communities in the Kamuli District.

Students will travel to Kamuli, Uganda for approximately 6 weeks (end of May-early July) and live at the Mpirigiti Rural Training Centre, an ISU satellite campus. Students participate in cultural experiences including a visit to a national park and lessons on traditional dancing and drumming, assist with teaching in elementary schools, work in school gardens, implement team projects that benefit schools, and engage with and learn from local farmers and community members. Areas of emphasis for team projects typically include: agroforestry, beekeeping, irrigation, school lunch programs, post-harvest loss mitigation, poultry husbandry, and sanitation and hygiene.

This program is typically offered every summer.

Tuesday, May 27, 2025 to Sunday, July 6, 2025

Department:

GLOBE

Type of Travel:

Travel Course

Application Deadline:

Friday, February 7, 2025

Semester:

Summer

Learn more!

Year:

2025

GLOBE 4320X Field Course on Global Public Health Services Delivery - Spring Break

nicolerh — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 19:26:49 +0000

Currently Unavailable

Uganda

Program Director(s):

Betsy Matos

Dorothy Masinde

Program itinerary is tentative and subject to change

The central theme of Globe 4320x- Field Course on Global Public Health Services Delivery is to explore public health infrastructures and processes through experiential learning. The course will be delivered in person and span the 16 weeks of the spring semester, with travel to Uganda taking place over spring break.

During the first eight weeks of the course, students will review the essential elements of the public health systems and define how social determinants of health influence health outcomes. Students will become familiar with our Uganda’s existing public health services through extensive readings (i.e., peer-reviewed articles, news articles, WHO proclamations, etc.) and discussions. These discussions will allow students to identify and evaluate the challenges of delivering quality public health services in Uganda.

While in Uganda, we will visit several sites where public health services are delivered, including healthcare systems, schools, nutritional centers, and villages.

This comprehensive project will incorporate experiences in cultural diversity and compare and contrast with U.S. public health systems. Additionally, students should demonstrate how they would design public health delivery systems to improve health outcomes for the communities visited effectively.

3 credits GLOBE 4320X during spring semester

This program was last offered in spring 2024 and 2025.

Thursday, March 13, 2025 to Monday, March 24, 2025

Department:

Global Resource Systems

Type of Travel:

Travel Course

Application Deadline:

Friday, November 1, 2024

Semester:

Spring

Learn more!

Year:

2025

Scholarship winner is a true “hunger fighter”

nicolerh — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 19:08:35 +0000

A junior studying Environmental Studies, International Agriculture, and Horticulture at Iowa State University (ISU) is this year’s David Lambert “Hunger Fighter” scholarship winner. Jocelyn Pocernich, who has a passion for child nutrition, seed science, and global food security, was recognized at the 2023 World Food Prize celebrations in Des Moines by Dr. Manjit Misra, director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

“My education, travels, and internship experiences cultivated my desire to contribute to furthering global food security,” said Pocernich. “My career goals are to work in rural and urban communities, helping farmers with—and teaching school children about—sustainable farming practices.”

The “Hunger Fighter” scholarship is awarded each year to a sophomore or junior who has demonstrated interest in seed science, global food security, and/or childhood nutrition. Recipients are selected based on academic excellence, leadership acumen, and interpersonal communication skills.

The scholarship was named after Dr. David Lambert, a distinguished ISU Seed Science Center (SSC) fellow. An internationally recognized expert in global food security and a strong advocate of engaging youth in the fight against world hunger, he was a tireless champion of child nutrition, food safety, and biotechnology. The scholarship was established with contributions from his family and friends who wish to honor his memory.

The World Food Prize Youth Institutes convene high school students, teachers, and experts each year to explore and solve local, national, and global hunger and food security issues. Following Lambert’s call, Pocernich participated as a high school freshman by studying sustainable aquaponics systems in Thailand to help ease climate change challenges and improve nutrition in low-income communities. This experience led her to study environmentally sustainable horticultural systems, fruit crop production and management, and soil science.

She also took advantage of study abroad opportunities at ISU, which took her to Costa Rica and India, where she learned more about pest and disease management from real crop growers.

As a volunteer for Engineers Without Borders, Pocernich worked on projects that aimed to extend the growing season for Ghanaian farmers through rainwater collection systems.

In a six-week summer internship as part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ �� program in Uganda, she partnered with the Kamuli community, four primary schools, and a secondary school to establish an avocado and sustainable firewood production orchard that will benefit the students of Namasagali Primary School in central Uganda.

She also taught fifth graders on the use of organic and artificial fertilizers in their school gardens that grow vegetables for the children’s lunches.

Pocernich currently assists Dr. Ajay Nair of the Department of Agronomy in his vegetable production lab.

Original story posted, https://www.seeds.iastate.edu/news/scholarship-winner-true-%E2%80%9Chung....

Tags:

Jocelyn Pocernich

Uganda

David Lambert “Hunger Fighter” scholarship

Author(s):

Cynthia Hicks

Fernandez has a fire for putting others first

nicolerh — Mon, 08 May 2023 12:36:36 +0000

Sofia Fernandez, graduating senior in global resource systems and agricultural studies, participated in the Iowa State University - Uganda Program during her time at Iowa State. In Uganda, she worked in primary school classrooms and school gardens to teach children about agriculture and help them plant, manage and harvest crops used to make school lunches.

Passion. That is the word Sofia Fernandez would use to describe her affinity for helping people in need. This fire for putting others first has resulted in her being selected for the spring 2023 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council Distinguished Service Award.

Growing up in Quincy, Illinois, Fernandez, a graduating senior in global resource systems and agricultural studies, frequently volunteered in her community. It wasn’t until she discovered the global resource systems major at Iowa State University after her first semester of college as a biology student that she realized she could incorporate similar service values into her education.

“Global resource systems fits me so well,” Fernandez said. “A big part of the major is serving others and creating sustainable systems with the world’s limited resources.”

She explored several subjects before declaring agricultural studies as her focus area because of its all-encompassing curriculum. Instead of delving into specific aspects of agriculture, Fernandez likes learning how each moving part makes up the bigger picture of production.

Shortly after she switched majors, Fernandez was accepted to the Iowa State University—Uganda Program (ISU-UP) in Kampala, Uganda. Her study abroad experience was delayed two years due to COVID-19, but she finally got to travel to the east African country in the summer of 2022. There, she worked in primary school classrooms and school gardens to teach children about agriculture and help them plant, manage and harvest crops used to make school lunches.

While in Uganda, Fernandez also completed the international internship that is required of global resource systems students. In between service learning activities, she met with members of Food and Nutrition Security Support Groups created by ISU-UP. This program provides education and resources to local small-holder farmers to improve their food production practices and benefit their livelihoods overall. The majority of the participants are female, with only about 3% of participants being male.

“My goal was to gather research and come up with solutions to show them that it is important for both parents of a family to be involved in the support groups, not only for their own sake, but for their children’s sake,” Fernandez said. “It was surreal to engage with these people and create relationships with them, knowing they were trusting me.”

Another experience Fernandez anticipated since freshman year was taking AGEDS 450: Farm Management and Operation at the Ag 450 Farm. She enrolled in the course this spring and joined the farm’s Customs and Swine Committee. Fernandez was also elected president of the class shortly after the start of the semester.

As president, she organizes business meetings and guides discussions about farming endeavors. Marketing grain and preparing for planting season are the main orders of business this time of year, and Fernandez believes encouraging input from her peers on these topics is the best way to ensure the class is inclusive and productive.

“It’s really important to provide other students with this information so we can all be a part of making decisions together,” Fernandez said.

In addition to her service at the Ag 450 Farm and overseas, Fernandez has raised money for local and state organizations as a member of her sorority. These include the Lutheran Services of Iowa and the Special Olympics of Iowa.

Catherine Swoboda, associate teaching professor in global resource systems, said Fernandez’s generous spirit is a testament to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ mission to enhance the quality of life of people in Iowa and around the world.

“Throughout her time in college, Sofia’s character and work ethic have shined across her academic and personal activities,” Swoboda said. “Her commitment to service reflects her passion for agriculture and helping others.”

This passion will not be put out upon graduation. Fernandez will return to Iowa State in the fall to pursue a graduate degree with a focus in agricultural outreach and extension. As a part of this program, she will travel back and forth to Uganda to continue her work at ISU-UP, which is exactly where she wants to be.

“I was offered this opportunity and I couldn’t pass it up because I feel like my time is not finished here at Iowa State,” Fernandez said. “I feel like this is the perfect next step for me.”

_{Original story: Friedrichsen, A. (2023, May 5). Fernandez has a fire for putting others first. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. https://www.cals.iastate.edu/features/2023/fernandez-has-fire-putting-ot...}

Tags:

Amber Friedrichsen

Fernandez has a fire for putting others first

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council Distinguished Service Award

Uganda

Author(s):

Amber Friedrichsen

‘Aha moment’ for future career path came during international experience

nicolerh — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 15:29:08 +0000

By Whitney Baxter

Getting out of her comfort zone enabled Payten Watson to gain new perspectives beyond her area of study.

Watson, a senior in food science from Urbandale, Iowa, has been selected as the fall 2022 semester College of Agriculture and Life Sciences student marshal. She will lead fellow graduates as they enter Hilton Coliseum during Iowa State University’s undergraduate commencement ceremony Dec. 17, at 1:30 p.m. She will be escorted by Lee Burras, Morrill Professor of agronomy.

A first-generation college student and the daughter of a single mother, Watson knew a college degree would open many opportunities for her, including chances to travel the world.

She worked hard in high school, earning 44 college credits to jump-start her associate degree at Des Moines Area Community College. While at DMACC, she was accepted into the honors program and took leadership and team-building courses that would prove beneficial as she transferred to Iowa State during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With many classes still held online during the fall 2020 semester, Watson focused on getting to know people. She became involved at Iowa State as much as possible, using those leadership and team-building skills.

One of the connections she made was with fellow transfer student Sarah Mattingly, a senior in food science. Mattingly introduced Watson to two student organizations she could join to help people and use her food science expertise: Engineers Without Borders, where Watson helped design pit latrines for a medical clinic in Ullo, Ghana, and Good Earth Student Farm, where she harvested vegetables for Iowa State’s food pantry, the SHOP.

“Gaining these hands-on experiences has helped shape Payten into a more critical thinker, as well as given her practical understanding of how to grow and harvest vegetables and herbs,” Mattingly said. “These are all invaluable experiences for anyone wanting to go into the non-profit side of food to help them better address sustainable development needs.”

Watson’s first opportunity to travel the world led to a memorable “aha moment” about what she wanted to do with her degree. During her GLOBE 201: Introduction to Global Resource Systems class, she learned about the ISU-Uganda Program and opportunities to use food science to tackle global food and climate change challenges.

“I saw how people were using food science in a more applied way than just taking the industry route,” Watson said. “I realized I could take the skills I’m learning at Iowa State and use them to help people.”

Last summer, she traveled to Uganda with Burras and others to participate in the ISU-Uganda Program, which led to her current youth programming and education internship with the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines.

Thinking about the benefits these student organizations and study abroad experiences have provided, Watson encourages fellow students to try new opportunities outside their area of study, even if they may not feel qualified for them.

“You grow by being uncomfortable. Be comfortable enough to get out of your comfort zone and try something new,” Watson said.

She also encourages students to advocate for themselves and not be afraid to ask their professors for assistance if they struggle to understand a concept presented in class.

“I always encourage students to come before or after class for clarification. Payten was one of the students that took part in the opportunity,” said Shannon Coleman, associate professor of food science and human nutrition. “She would always come with pre-written questions. She was also not afraid to come back for clarification. That is a trait that will take her far in her career.”

After graduation, Watson will continue her World Food Prize Foundation internship. She aspires to combine her passions for food science and helping people into a career that involves working with youth.

_{Original story posted, https://www.cals.iastate.edu/features/2022/aha-moment-future-career-path...}

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Author(s):

Graduating student aspires to connect animal agriculture, food security, public health in future career

nicolerh — Mon, 16 May 2022 13:09:18 +0000

By Amber Friedrichsen

Grace Jakes wasn’t an agriculturalist by chance – she became one by choice. Jakes didn’t grow up on a farm, but decided to major in dairy science and global resource systems at Iowa State University. As a result, she discovered her strengths as a researcher and her affinity for improving the industry worldwide.

The pinnacle of Jakes’ college career was studying abroad in Uganda at the start of the spring 2020 semester. There, she conducted research on local veterinarian services by speaking with many small-holder farmers from the town of Kampala. She wanted to know the positive and negative aspects of livestock production in the area.

“I held a lot of interviews with farmers asking about the animals they had, what services they access, and what they value,” Jakes said. “The biggest thing farmers felt was useful was education and the knowledge they were gaining by working with animal health care workers in the community.”

Jakes drew parallels between these farmers’ learning opportunities and extension resources in the U.S. She also identified differences between our nation’s food system and that of countries like Uganda. This ignited a passion in Jakes that motivated her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine on the international level.

“I want to work in an area that focuses on issues that impact rural farmers in developing countries,” Jakes said. “They are the ones who have the most opportunity for growth,”

Unfortunately, her stay in Uganda was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though she returned home in the middle of the semester, Jakes was able to finish her research project remotely. In addition to this experience, she has assisted with various studies on campus that have confirmed her interest in agricultural sciences.

Jakes initially stepped outside her comfort zone and onto the Iowa State Dairy Farm, where she conducted research through the Honors Program. Later, she began working with Lance Baumgard, professor of animal science, to examine hindgut acidosis in dairy cattle and understand how cows’ digestive systems changes during the calving period. She was also a part of a team that studied how heat stress affects swine performance.

Along with completing research as an Honors student, Jakes has been a First Year Honors Program Leader and a peer advisor for the organization. She has also served as the dairy products chair for Dairy Science Club, and was a co-chair for Block and Bridle’s blood drive and academic quadrathlon, which she participated in as a team member as well.

Steven Lonergan, Morrill Professor of animal science, has seen Jakes’ character take shape during her time as an undergraduate. He recognizes her involvement at Iowa State, as well as her potential to contribute to the broader agricultural community.

“Grace is a talented scholar and enthusiastic learner, and it is safe to say she has engaged in many opportunities at Iowa State,” Lonergan said. “She has demonstrated she is dedicated to using technical and leadership skills in the international arena. I predict that she will be a difference-maker in her chosen field of study.”

Looking ahead, Jakes will attend Colorado State University in the fall. She was accepted into the school’s D.M.V. and Ph.D. Combined Degree Program, and will be working toward both degrees concurrently. After graduate school, Jakes aspires to work toward connecting the dots between animal agriculture, food security and public health in developing countries.

Reflecting on how her career aspirations have changed from setting foot on campus four years ago, Jakes said it was the support from her peers and mentors that inspired Jakes to pave her own path and push herself to achieve.

“I came to Iowa State as an open book, and I didn’t have a lot of experience in the areas I chose to focus on,” Jakes said. “The fact I have been able to find my place speaks to how incredible the faculty, staff and students are at Iowa State and the culture the university has created around learning.”

^{Original story posted, https://www.cals.iastate.edu/features/2022/graduating-student-aspires-co...}

Tags:

Grace Jakes

Uganda

Author(s):

Amber Friedrichsen

Semester Along the Nile - Uganda

sfine — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 21:56:51 +0000

Alternate URL:

https://isuabroad.iastate.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=13716

Uganda

Program Director(s):

Gail Nonnecke
Catherine Swoboda

This semester-long program allows students to complete academic coursework, including service learning (GLOBE 494A) in Global Resource Systems, while living and learning in Kamuli, Uganda for the semester. While in Kamuli, students will be enrolled full-time and also have the opportunity to complete on-line ISU courses and in some majors, may complete an internship or independent project. Students will also have the option to complete their Global Internship (GLOBE 321), and independent project (GLOBE 290 or 490), or earn service learning credits (GLOBE 494A).

While in Uganda, students will live at an ISU facility and are expected to follow the program’s code of conduct and housing agreements.

Program dates are tentative and subject to change. This program is offered every semester at the Mpirigiti Rural Training Center, an Iowa State satellite campus in Kamuli, Uganda. For more information, please contact the program directors or a study abroad advisor!

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 to Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Department:

GRS, AnS, Hort, FSHN, AGBUS, AGRON, NREM

Type of Travel:

Semester Long

Application Deadline:

Friday, November 1, 2024

Semester:

Fall

Spring

Learn more!

Year:

2025

Service-learning on campus and beyond

nicolerh — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 17:21:10 +0000

Finding ways to grow local fruits and vegetables sustainably. Teaching children about agriculture, culinary science, natural resources and more. Learning to collect data to determine animal population numbers in certain locations. These are just a few examples of the many service-learning opportunities in which Iowa State University students take part at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ three satellite campuses. The activities allow students to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to real-world situations, all while helping others.

ISU EARTH Program, ISU-Uganda Program

The ISU EARTH Program and ISU-Uganda Program are similar in that students travel to these locations to participate in summer or semester-long programs. Faculty members also take students to these destinations for week-long trips during term breaks in the spring and fall semesters.

The ISU EARTH Program was established in 2010 in the U.S. Virgin Islands with the goal of offering Iowa State students service-learning opportunities, all while helping island residents improve their lives through sustainable agriculture practices. More than 75 students have taken part in the program since it began.

While on the island of St. John, Iowa State students assist with community engagement projects to increase their knowledge base and benefit the local area. These projects include establishing school and community gardens to supply fruits and vegetables for feeding programs; helping teachers create educational programs about agriculture, natural resources and environmental topics; and collecting food waste to compost and improve the soil structure.

“For our students to model the impact of agriculture and how it leads to better nutrition and health is inspiring for members of the community that have limited experience with agriculture,” says Shelley Taylor, director of CALS Global Programs.

In Uganda, students and faculty from Iowa State and Makerere University, Kampala, partner to create bi-national, educational, school garden programs in rural Kamuli district.

Since the program began in 2006, 147 Iowa State students have traveled to the country to team up with 168 Ugandan students to take part in service-learning opportunities. Those include developing school gardens that serve as both outdoor learning laboratories and contribute nutrition to lunches served at the schools, working with local youth to develop entrepreneurship projects as enterprises and assisting smallholder farmers with their crop and livestock farming.

“University students need to have a chance to learn about resource systems in other cultures and locations,” says Gail Nonnecke, Morrill Professor and Global Professor in Global Resource Systems. “It’s rewarding to see their personal growth and transformation as they contribute to development projects that can help to solve complex problems of our world.”

By: Whitney Baxter

^{Original story posted, https://stories.cals.iastate.edu/2021/10/service-learning-on-campus-and-...}

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Service-learning on campus and beyond

Author(s):

Celebrating Women's History Month: How the Uganda Alliance Club at Iowa State University is supporting Ugandan women

mmgrant — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 03:46:57 +0000

During Women’s History Month, it is important to recognize women leaders who have made an impact on our world and inspire other women to make a difference. It is also important to recognize organizations that support women and their communities around the world, such as the Uganda Alliance Club at Iowa State.

The Uganda Alliance Club works to support and bring awareness to the women of the Tusubila crafts group of Kumuli, Uganda. This group has grown to include sixty women who create crafts such as handmade baskets, jewelry, bags, soap and masks. The Uganda Alliance Club has partnered with the Tusubila women to sell their products within the Iowa State community, with a goal of expanding their market and increasing sales.

The idea for the Uganda Alliance program started in the summer of 2019 when Katie Stringer, an ISU student, was studying abroad through the ISU-Uganda program. She realized that most of the Tusubila group’s sales were within their small rural community and that there was a potential market opportunity for the baskets back in the United States. She presented her idea to the sponsors of her study abroad program, the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL) at Iowa State University. By working with CSRL staff, the Uganda Alliance was formed and baskets started arriving in Ames.

The CSRL works directly with the Tusubila crafts group to provide training and materials to make the baskets. Each basket is handmade from dried raffia and banana leaves and labeled with the name of the woman who created it. Individual women receive payments for the goods they produce, allowing buyers to directly support these women and their families. These payments increase and diversify each woman's income, helping to pay school fees and purchase food, household items, and livestock.

The Uganda Alliance basket sales have greatly impacted the lives of the Tusubila women. In less than two years since the Uganda Alliance was formed, several hundred baskets have been sold. Baskets are sold each semester through club events, sales on campus, or social media posts. The club has typically relied on students, faculty, and staff traveling back to Ames from study abroad programs to transport baskets back with their luggage, but due to limited travel, the club is considering other ways of shipping the baskets. In the future, club members hope to sell additional products from the Tusubila crafts group. Through the Uganda Alliance program, Iowa State students will be able to support Ugandan women and their community for years to come.

For anyone interested in supporting the club, members from Uganda Alliance will be selling baskets outside of Parks Library on April 9th from 10am to 4pm. The club will also be selling baskets in the Workspace in the Memorial Union April 12th through 24th. For more information about the Uganda Alliance program and the Tusubila crafts group check out this website: https://www.csrl.cals.iastate.edu/crafts and follow the club's social media accounts: @uganda_alliance_isu

Tags:

Uganda

Author(s):

Marta Grant

�������� - Uganda

Service Learning Trip to Uganda - Spring Break

Empowering Future Leaders in Sustainable Development through Service Learning in Rural Uganda - Summer 2025

GLOBE 4320X Field Course on Global Public Health Services Delivery - Spring Break

Scholarship winner is a true “hunger fighter”

Fernandez has a fire for putting others first

‘Aha moment’ for future career path came during international experience

Graduating student aspires to connect animal agriculture, food security, public health in future career

Semester Along the Nile - Uganda

Service-learning on campus and beyond

ISU EARTH Program, ISU-Uganda Program

Celebrating Women's History Month: How the Uganda Alliance Club at Iowa State University is supporting Ugandan women

�� - Uganda