MPI is excited to welcome and introduce the five new 2008-2009 Ecuador Program Directors to Conocoto.  Along with Mark Hand, Seth Harlan, and Luke Lockwood, these superstars will spend the next 13 months developing programs, building relationships, and expanding local access to healthcare, microcredit, and education in the communities of Rumiloma and San Fransisco.

Seen above from left to right:

Holly Ward - Vanderbilt University

Hailing from Denver, Holly loves being able to call Colorado her home base, and is thankful the mile-high city has (somewhat) prepared her lungs for the thin Ecuadorian air.  In her four years as a student at Vanderbilt University, Holly spent her time swimming for the school club,  teaching with ArtReach, leading for YoungLife,  rowing for the crew team, as an executive member of her sorority Chi Omega, and a published poet for the Vanderbilt Review.  As her 2008 graduation date drew nearer, the spring-time appearance of an Oswaldo Guayasamín exhibit at Vanderbilt stood as the deciding factor behind her decision to join the Manna Ecuador team.  Having graduated with a dual degree in English and Political Science, Holly looked to Manna as a way to explore her other passion, art, by leading art classes in the communities which the Ecuador team calls home.  Holly counts letters, thrift-store tee shirts, and The Chimney as three of her favorite things.  Keep up to date with her travels on her website.

Jocelyn Lancaster - Southern Methodist University

Hola a todos! I graduated this May from Southern Methodist University in Dallas with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Business and Spanish. I spent my undergraduate years acting in many different roles, from sorority officer, to orientation leader, study abroad student, and psychology research lab assistant. Though I spent a portion of my adolescent years living somewhere in Central Ohio Suburbia, I consider the great state of Texas my true home! During my time here in Ecuador, I am excited to explore and experience the colorful culture while working hard to achieve our service goals in the rural community of Conocoto. Following my year in Ecuador, I plan to return to Dallas to pursue a career in managerial/executive consulting. However, I'm keeping my options open because who knows what tomorrow will bring! Hasta pronto..

Serena Zhou - Johns Hopkins University

Hello, Hola, Ni Hao! As a Shanghai native, I have resided in MN, MS, CT, MD, and SC, and can now proudly call Quito my new casa. I am a 2008 alumni of Johns Hopkins University majoring in Behavioral Biology, as well as an aspiring health care provider with ambitions to develop cultural competency skills needed to effectively serve as a global citizen. As an undergrad, I was a member of Students Educating and Empowering for Diversity (S.E.E.D.), Kappa Alpha Theta, and was also a peer health educator, an admissions representative, student adviser, research assistant, and Chinese tutor. I also studied at Fudan University in Shanghai for a semester, interned for the CT Health Foundation, and volunteered at several clinics in Baltimore. I am looking forward to becoming a part of the community, learning about Ecuadorian culture, becoming trilingual, and developing lasting relationships with the local communities that we will be serving.

Eliah McCalla - Indiana University

After graduating from Indiana University in 2008, I came to Ecuador to work for MPI. Most of my efforts in school went toward finding ways to travel and I spent time in Ecuador, Chile, Madagascar, and South Korea (well, at least a little time). Ecuador is a place of extreme beauty and injustice and they both make me want to work here. While with MPI, I hope to expand microcredit lending opportunities for locals and address environmental concerns in the Valley. After this year, I'll be returning to the states to build on the ambiguities of my International Studies major.

Dunc Fulton - Vanderbilt University

I graduated from Vanderbilt in 2008 with a degree in Spanish and European Studies and a minor in Mangerial Studies. In college I was active as a Co-Chair of the Music Group, Advising Member of the Honor Council, and as a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. During summer breaks, I served as an intern both in the U.S. Senate and also at the Center for American and International Law. Having long wanted to move abroad after graduation, I decided to work for MPI Ecuador after graduation, teaching classes and helping run our microfinance initiative in the country. After my year in Ecuador, I will attend Tulane Law School in New Orleans.

BLOGS -  Read Mark Hand's blog for updates on Ecuadorian politics and travel tips.  Team Ecuador's blogs  -  Team Nica's blogs

RECRUIT -  It's not too early to start recruiting for next year's Program Directors and you can help. Contact Chris to find out how.

 

SUMMER VOLS -  Special thanks goes out to all our summer volunteers in Managua and Quito. We are grateful for your time and service. Enjoy the rest of your summer and please come back!

NEXT WEEK -  Look for the new "Team Nica" Manna Mail. We will introduce new PDs from our Managua site.