Student Global Engagement Fellow Alumni/ae: Where Are They Now? (Part Four)

Student Global Engagement Fellows are a group of inspiring graduates and undergraduates who promote and execute impactful thematic civic engagement projects on their campuses and in the communities where they reside, across the Open Society University Network. Throughout their fellowship, the Global Engagement Fellows demonstrate their cross-cultural leadership skills by collaborating with student leaders around the world to support students in starting their social impact projects and raising awareness of the necessity for youth engagement in community issues. This is the fourth article in a series telling the stories of student Global Engagement alumni/ae who have completed their fellowships and now reflect on how the experience shaped their development and how the leadership skills they gained not only enhanced their projects and careers, but also positively affected the communities they live in.

Sayed Anwar Ibrahimi, American University of Central Asia (AUCA), Kyrgyzstan

“I saw the Global Engagement Fellowship as an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals and make a meaningful impact on the lives of Afghan students facing unique challenges,” says Anwar Ibrahimi, OSUN Lead Global Engagement Fellow alum 2023-2024. Utilizing the valuable resources and mentorship at OSUN, Inbrahimi was able to foster his civic engagement projects addressing the needs of evacuated Afghan students.

In 2021, Inbrahimi moved from the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) to the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) as part of the evacuation program. After witnessing the challenges faced by Afghan students, especially those evacuated from his institution, his passion for addressing their needs led him to pursue initiatives focused on the resettlement of Afghan students into new institutions and societies.

His active participation in the new university encouraged Ibrahimi to apply for the Global Engagement Fellowship program to promote and implement several civic engagement projects. He was thrilled to have more support to work directly with displaced students and understand their experiences and challenges firsthand, such as the English and Mindfulness program and monthly civic engagement workshops. Ibrahimi had opportunities to participate in the Get Engaged Conference 2022 in Kyrgyzstan and the leadership retreat program in Bogotá, Colombia. In addition, the program introduced him to a diverse and inclusive cohort of young leaders from around the world, enriching his understanding of global issues and strengthening his ability to develop inclusive and effective solutions.

Balancing his academic commitments with his fellowship responsibilities was challenging, especially when he had just moved to a new country. However, Ibrahimi overcame all of these obstacles to become an active fellow and was promoted to lead fellow in the next cohort. "Through effective communication, teamwork, and prioritization, my cohort members and I overcame these challenges and stayed focused on our goals. By maintaining open channels of communication and seeking feedback, we could adjust our strategies and optimize our efforts to maximize impact despite the obstacles we faced," Ibrahimi emphasized.

After completing the Global Engagement Fellows Program, Ibrahimi continued his commitment to supporting Afghan students and promoting civic participation. He recently became a full-time transfer student at Rutgers University in New Jersey, US. Ibrahimi maintains close ties with his community, helping evacuee students integrate into new academic environments. He also continues to improve his skills as he participates in engineering for humanity projects. That's also his advice for future scholars who want to join the program: "Meaningful change often requires patience and perseverance, so stay committed to your vision and the impact you want to make."

Srijan Banik, BRAC University, Bangladesh

Srijan Banik, an alumnus of the Class of 2022 - 2023 Global Engagement Fellowship, has developed a strong sense of civic engagement since his freshman year at BRAC University. His dedication to social entrepreneurship and civic advocacy led him to attend the Get Engaged Conference in Kyrgyzstan in 2022 and join the Global Engagement Fellowship Program.

Driving social change through innovation and education is Banik's motto. During his undergraduate studies, Banik and his friends ran a social enterprise addressing the need for fresh agricultural production in Bangladesh's cities. The company connected with farmers to provide fresh food at affordable prices to residents and help farmers earn a better income. In 2021, the startup was shut down due to a global pandemic. Still, Banik found ways to contribute to his community. Recognizing the gap in quality education, he created Nerdy Andaa to make educational content more accessible in the Bangla language. Banik became BRAC University's campus director for the Millennium Campus Network (MCN), a global association of students addressing humanity's greatest challenges.

His commitment to civic engagement brought Banik to the 2022 Get Engaged Conference to share his project with other student leaders in the Open Society University network. With the guidance of Sarah DeVeer, Outreach Coordinator at Bard College and Banik's mentor during the conference, his team developed the Global Impact Hub and received support from OSUN and BRAC University to establish a Social Impact Lab on campus.

After the conference, Banik was invited to be the first Global Engagement Fellow to connect BRAC University students with OSUN activities. The program is a platform for Banik to collaborate with other Fellows to implement transnational initiatives, such as the Global Wall of Goodwill during World Mental Health Day or facilitating monthly civic engagement workshops.

Currently, Banik continues his impactful journey as the Program Coordinator at BRAC University, managing the operations of the Social Impact Lab to promote leadership development, civic engagement and social entrepreneurship, not only in co-curricular activities but also in the academic curriculum. Last year, Banik returned to the Get Engaged Conference 2023 in Budapest, Hungary as a facilitator to share with student leaders his professional development since joining OSUN.

As the current cohort of Student Global Engagement Fellows continue their work to create positive change in their communities and societies, OSUN will continue to share their inspiring stories. Stay tuned for more stories from Global Engagement Fellow alumni/ae.

Post Date: March 29, 2024