Global Engagement Fellows promote and coordinate thematic civic engagement projects across the Open Society University Network. Selected fellows have developed and sustained a civic engagement project and demonstrated leadership skills and a desire and aptitude for working with others.
Applications for new fellowships open in Spring 2022.
Applications for new fellowships open in Spring 2022.
What is a Global Fellow?
Global Fellows are undergraduate students across the Open Society University Network and Bard International Network who provide assistance to students across both networks to conceptualize and produce civic engagement projects. Watch this video, created by our 2020-21 Global Fellows to learn more.
2021–22 Fellows
Zarlasht Sarmast
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT FELLOWS PROGRAM COORDINATORAmerican University of Central Asia 2020
Zarlasht Sarmast is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and 2020 graduate of the American University of Central Asia. She has previously served as the spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Kabul and communications specialist for GIZ in Central Asia. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in International Relations and Security at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Ahmed Omar Abdi
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT FELLOWAs a Global Fellow living in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, I want to support other students who are refugees as they pursue their civic engagement projects. I am currently enrolled in foundation credit courses and in the fall of 2021 I plan on enrolling in a degree program. In the future, my long-term goal is to design my own initiative, “Accelerated Learning Program,” which supports higher education for refugees, displaced individuals, and impoverished students.
Sundus Al Fararja
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT FELLOWAl Quds Bard College
Junior in Human Rights and International Law
With my project, “Womenity Club,” I aspire to reach out to Palestinian women, especially marginalized women, and to make them aware of their social, economic, and political rights, helping them achieve intellectual empowerment. In two years, I aim to mobilize a group of youth who can effectively dialogue on women's rights under Palestinian legislation.
Abdul Walid Azizi
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT FELLOWAmerican University of Central Asia
Junior in International and Comparative Politics
As a Global Fellow, I aim to assist OSUN students so they can engage with their communities as active and responsible citizens. In my role coordinating the Monthly Civic Engagement Workshops, I plan on communicating and working with young leaders throughout the network, helping them to organize effective community-building projects.
Nelo Dlamini
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT FELLOWCentral European University
Freshman
My goal as a Global Fellow is to encourage students to get involved civically, whether it means starting their own projects or volunteering for existing ones. I look forward to working with and learning from like-minded students who share my passion for civic engagement so I can build my own project. In taking on this role, I expect to grow as both an activist and a leader.
Mohamed Omar Farah
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT FELLOWI am a teacher in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya and my goal is to serve as an advocate for refugee children who need access to schooling. I look forward to interacting with other Global Fellows this year so I can gain from their experience. This will help me in my project “Children Out of School,” which promotes civic engagement activities that support vulnerable children in refugee camps or elsewhere who need schooling.
Vũ Đức Huy
LEAD GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT FELLOWFulbright University Vietnam
Junior
I am the founder and program director of Your Unique Understanding, a youth-led nonprofit organization that supports sustainable development in Vietnam by empowering ethnic minority youth through education, career education, soft skills training, and leadership programs. As a Lead Global Fellow, the goal of my projects, “Youth Engagement Training Initiative” and “Global Fellows Magazine,” is to build up civic engagement among student leaders by amplifying their voices, providing intensive training programs, and supporting collaboration on the institutional level.
Wisdom Kalu
LEAD GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT FELLOWAshesi University
Junior
I am the founder of My Scholarship Info, a social initiative that seeks to connect African students with vulnerable backgrounds to higher educational opportunities. Specifically, we coach students as they apply to academic programs. As a Lead Global Fellow, I want to promote civic engagement activities within and outside my campus and network and collaborate with global fellows on their projects.
Lorraine Makuyana
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT FELLOWAshesi University
Junior in Computer Engineering
I am the Founder and President of My Vision Initiative, an organization that empowers young women and girls in Zimbabwe in the areas of personal and professional development, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Being a Global Fellow grants me the chance to expand my project within Zimbabwe and across the network, allowing students who are passionate about gender equality and the empowerment of women to launch their own impactful projects.
Opportunities + More
Deadline: May 29, 2023