Mary Tjosvold graduate fellowship in community development
Since 2014, the Mary T. Scholars program has supported dozens of graduate students with community-based professional internships in the areas of health, social work, microfinance, agriculture, and education. The Mary T. Scholars program is one of the few study abroad programs at the University of Minnesota that provides graduate students an opportunity to engage in graduate-level professional development through community-based work in a foreign country. Airfare and most living expenses are included as part of the program.
In response to the increasing need for global knowledge and skills sharing, this fellowship was created by University of Minnesota alumnus and active humanitarian Dr. Mary Tjosvold. Dr. Tjosvold is a tireless advocate for global initiatives and works directly with disadvantaged communities in the United States and abroad.
Mary Tjovold (center) stands with Chi, a potato farmer (left), and Queen Mary, a dairy farmer (right), in Cameroon.
2024 program: Chiang Khong, Thailand
Students selected for the Mary T. Scholars summer 2024 program will be engaged in a community development and research internship experience at the Center for Girls in Chiang Khong, Thailand for a period of eight weeks. During the internship students will support the center with current projects and help develop ideas for a new initiative on the impact of early marriage. Additional activities at the center may include: data collection and documentation of project outcomes; website development (e.g., content); graphic design/motion graphics (e.g., create info clips); videography/filmmaking; and grant writing and report editing. Given the capacity of the Center for Girls only two graduate students will be selected this year.
Center for Girls’ mission is to work within the Chiang Rai Province to empower women and children, reduce instances of gender-based violence (GBV), and educate the populace about human trafficking issues. CFG seeks to prevent the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) and all forms of abuse against children. [They] are committed to creating sustainable participatory projects that equip people in the surrounding communities with the necessary life skills to become independent leaders who strive towards human rights for all, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or socioeconomic status.
2024 program: Cambodia
Graduate students selected for the Mary T. Scholars Summer 2024 Program will be working primarily with the Khmer Vulnerability Aid Organization (KVAO) and Tiny Toones. Both local partners are Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The internship is for a period of 5-6 weeks. Students are expected to be engaged in all program activities and complete all readings and assignments.
KVAO is a non-governmental humanitarian organization easing the integration process of Cambodian refugees deported to Cambodia. Its goal is “to assist Cambodian citizens being deported back to Cambodia with integration into Cambodian society to reduce violations of human rights, vulnerability to conflict, and to assist returnees with establishing stable, constructive, and independent lives in Cambodia.”
Tiny Toones was unofficially founded in 2005 and years later transformed into a successful educational and social space for street children in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The mission of Tiny Toones is “to provide a safe, positive environment for at‐risk youth to channel their energy and creativity into the arts and education, empowering them to build self‐confidence in their daily lives, aim for better employment possibilities, and feel supported pursuing their dreams.”
2024 program: India
Students selected for placement at the Men-Tsee-Khang Tibetan Medical & Astro College (MTK-TMAC) in Dharamsala will be working with faculty and staff on professional development. Students will support the medical school in organizing and delivering weekly sessions related to teaching skills, public speaking, conference presentation and abstract writing, English language development, and research archive writing and reporting. Additional activities at the medical center may also include: helping astrologer with English consultation and written astrological chart, website development (e.g., language/content), grant writing, and report editing. This is our pilot year in India, only 2 graduate students will be selected this year.
During the internship students will live at the MTK-TMAC guest house and work under the supervision of Vice-principal Dr. Namdol Lhamo. In partnering with the Mary T Scholars, Dr. Namdol Lhamo hopes to modernize teaching methods and techniques at the school to support her staff in moving from lecture-based approaches to more student-centered teaching that embraces discussions and inquiry-based learning.
Men-Tsee-Khang (MTK) is located in northern India in the foothills of Himalaya. MTK was established in 1916 by the 13th Dalai Lama in Lhasa, Tibet. In 1959 the People’s Republic of China invaded Tibet and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India followed by 80,000 Tibetans. His Holiness was given residence in Mussorie by the Indian Government and then a year later in 1960 was granted permanent residence in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India.
The main objective of MTK is to preserve, promote and practice (Sowa Rigpa), the ancient Tibetan system of medicine, astronomy, and astrology. It also aims to improve the health and sanitation of the refugees in particular and the public in general and to establish dispensaries in order to provide accessible health care to the people regardless of caste, creed or color. Education and Higher Studies in the fields of Tibetan Medicine and Astrology, research and collaboration with scholars and institutes in India and abroad between different healing systems and to produce Tibetan medicines in an environmentally sensitive manner are the important goals in the development of this ancient healing system. For more information on MTK, visit their website.
2024 Mary T. Scholars application information
Important Notes
- Graduate students selected for this program will receive airfare and most living expenses.
- The internship is unpaid.
- Fellows will be expected to attend pre-departure workshops and register for a 1-credit schedule B course related to the ethics of international fieldwork in the spring semester (day/time TDB).
- The internship over the summer is non-credit.
Program Dates (Tentative)
- Thailand Project: May 30 – July 28, 2024 (8 weeks)
- Cambodia Project: June 10 – July 22, 2024 (6 weeks)
- [New] India Project: June 1 – July 6, 2024 (5 weeks)
Eligibility
All CEHD graduate and professional students are eligible for this program. If positions go unfilled in CEHD, invitations will be extended to the broader University community.
Application materials
To apply, applicants should submit a cover letter explaining how the internship best fits your past experiences and future goals (1-2 pages), CV, a letter of recommendation from your academic advisor, and two additional references. Essays should highlight the academic and professional background of the applicant in relation to the internship focus area.
Mary T. Fellows will be selected based on their capacity for:
- Previous experience related to the professional requirements of the position
- Fit with academic goals and current program
- Evidence of commitment to international engagement
- Flexibility and initiative to work in new environments
- Capacity to work in groups and be a team player
- A commitment to the reciprocal benefit of Fellow and community partners.
Application form and due date
- Submit a cover letter, CV, and contact information of two additional references via the application form by January 15, 2024.
- Your academic advisor submits a letter of recommendation.
Selection process
Final candidates selected for the program will be interviewed via Zoom. The interview will be conducted on the week of January 22, 2024, and the decision will be made by the first week of February 2024.
Contact
CEHD International Initiatives (cehdintl@umn.edu)