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Cal State L.A. faculty journeys to Thailand, Cambodia for field studies
Javeri selected as a World Peace Fellow by Rotary Centers
LOS ANGELES – Manisha Javeri—associate professor of instructional technology in the Division of Applied and Advanced Studies in Education at Cal State L.A.—has recently visited the Ban Mai Nai Soi refugee camp in Mae Hong Song along the Burma-Thailand border and the S21 prison camp and the killing fields in Cambodia.
As one of only 38 selected globally to be named a World Peace Fellow by the Rotary Centers for International Studies, Javeri (Los Angeles resident) conducted field studies in Thailand and Cambodia and attended peace and conflict resolution sessions led by esteemed professors from throughout the world. For the 11-week curriculum: http://www.rotary-chula.org/curriculum.html.
At the Rotary Peace Center at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Javeri also presented a public seminar on her research paper, entitled “Post Conflict Redevelopment in Mozambique: Using Technology to Design Humanitarian Interventions (Focus on HIV/AIDS).”
In response to this Rotary honor, Javeri said, “I want to say that there are basically moments in which you’re in touch with the meaning of life, when your relationship to the rest of the universe makes sense, and this fellowship program in Thailand was such a moment for me. I received this award when I was battling a major health challenge, and it came to me at a perfect time to give me an opportunity to shift the focus from myself and engage into the lives of others [in Cambodia and along Burma-Thailand border] who were suffering and in pain.”
Javeri indicated that the trip allowed her to connect to the reality of what her and her students had learned in class discussions. She said, “I began reflecting on all the conflict places that we talked about in our classes [Bosnia, Sudan, Israel-Palestine, Sri-Lanka, Africa, Argentina, Thailand, Burma, etc.] and the plight of the people suffering. I personally believe that true education is the only way to free oneself from the bondage of human suffering. I cannot and will never be able to truly understand and feel their pain; however, these field visits have given me a new perspective in dealing with my own.”
“I came back very humbled and more determined to use my knowledge and skills in technology to continue design humanitarian interventions, which I have already been doing for the last three years,” Javeri shared. “I would like to continue to involve students at CSULA to learn to engage in global issues, and to use classroom projects as platforms to solve real-world problems like HIV/AIDS, refugee support, post-war redevelopment and reconstruction, environmental issues and more.”
Javeri, who is originally from India and grew up in Bombay (Mumbai), plans to head to Mozambique next to implement a solar cooking project for the women in Africa. The solar ovens will be used to start a micro-business. For more about Javeri and her journeys, read her blog: http://manishainafrica.blogspot.com
The Rotary Centers program for World Peace fellowship provided tuition and fees, room and board in program-provided housing, field-study expenses, educational materials, medical insurance, and transportation. The fellowship is intended for “individuals who have chosen a career related to international relations, peace and conflict resolution, who already have work experience in these areas, and who have real potential to positively impact our world.”
The Rotary Centers for International Studies consists of 36,000 rotary clubs around the world. Its peace and conflict resolution program supports the mission of The Rotary Foundation to further world understanding and peace. For more about the Rotary fellowship, go to http://www.rotary.org/en/studentsandyouth/educationalprograms/rotarycentersfor
internationalstudies/Pages/ridefault.aspx.
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