Del
Hello my name is Del Lori and I am an International Relations student at Loyola Marymount University. I have a love for anything international and a fondness for learning about current events, various cultures, and seeing what different areas of the world have to offer. Moreover, I am involved in a service organization at my university that focuses on local food security, which is an area I am deeply passionate about. Additionally, in the fall of 2024, I am going to study the topics of war and peace in Zagreb, Croatia, which I am very much looking forward to.
My time with the We-Empower Team has been two of the most insightful months of my professional career. During my time, I was able to heavily expand upon my research skills, international development knowledge, and collaboration ability. For two of my primary assignments, I worked under Dr. Mushtaq Memon and Dr. Amanda Rose Newton. For Dr. Memon’s assignment, I collected research and data on what the largest contributing factors are to the economic development of the three Southeast Asian countries of Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. For Dr. Newton’s task, I worked under her guidance to collect research on the contributing factors to food insecurity within Thailand. The final product of each respective assignment was a short written article and an infographic.
Additionally, the We-Empower team provided a mentorship of education and guidance that was extremely helpful for a young professional such as myself. Everyone I worked under has decades of international development experience, and their passion for the field is just as inspiring as it is motivating. I will be forever grateful for the time I spent as an intern with We-Empower, and will definitely keep in contact with the team as I continue on with the rest of my career.
Mahdia
Mahdia Yari is a senior student at the University of Mississippi, pursuing a second Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in International Studies, after previously graduating in Linguistics from Afghanistan. During her six-week internship at “We- Empower”, Mahdia engaged in impactful projects on international development and food security. She chose Lebanon as the focus of her project, conducting extensive research on the country’s economic and food security issues. She completed her under the mentorship of Dr. Mushtaq Memon and Dr. Amanda Rose Newton Through weekly mentor meetings, she received valuable feedback, which helped refine her research and analysis. This internship provided her with practical experience, complementing her academic studies. It was a good opportunity to dive more into Food Security and International Development by reading and searching primary and secondary data. She found it one of the useful and prosperous internships he had that she could apply the strategies and experience she got during her internship.
In her research paper, Mahdia investigated the factors leading to Lebanon’s economic decline and food security concerns. She identified political instability, economic mismanagement, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut port explosion, and gender disparity as key contributors. Lebanon’s power-sharing political structure has led to inefficiencies and instability, while widespread corruption has deepened financial issues. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut port explosion caused extensive economic damage, increasing public debt and accelerating the decline. Additionally, significant gender disparities limit women’s economic opportunities, contributing to poverty. The country also faces severe food insecurity, with many unable to afford basic necessities. Hosting a large number of Syrian refugees has further strained resources and public services, exacerbating socio-economic issues.
Mahdia’s research highlights the complex interplay of factors hindering Lebanon’s development, providing insights into potential areas for policy intervention and international support. Her work at “We Empower” demonstrates her ability to apply academic knowledge in real-world contexts, making valuable contributions to understanding and addressing critical global issues.
Owen
My name is Owen Sweeney, and I’m a rising senior at the University of California, Los Angeles. I’m currently studying political science with a concentration in International Relations and minoring in Global Studies. At UCLA, I have gained a passion for international development. This is why I joined UCLA’s Global Development Lab, a student-run club that tries to tackle development issues both locally and on a global scale. We have professionals in the international development field who come to speak to us weekly, which has furthered my interest in the field. These interests in international politics also led me to study abroad last spring semester to take political science classes in both London and Paris. Outside of the classroom, I dedicate my time to serving as the captain and president of UCLA Ice Hockey.
My time at WeEmpower has been wonderful. I have been able to follow my passion for international development while working with an amazing team of professionals in food security. Noubia Gribi-Hussain, Dr. Mushtaq Memon, and Dr. Amanda Rose Newton have played an instrumental role in my time at We-Empower. Not only have they advised me on numerous projects, but they have also provided me with mentorship that has furthered my professional experience and network. Coming into this experience, I had a deep interest in development in Sub-Saharan Africa. To my benefit, I was given the option to pick any region of the World to base my projects on. With Dr. Mushtaq Memon, I used his deep-rooted expertise in international development to explore the economic and social barriers facing Chad, one of the least developed countries in the World. I examined this through the WeEmpower lens, focusing on food security and gender inequality. With Dr. Amanda Rose Newton, I used her knowledge as an agricultural expert to explore how climate change affects food security in Madagascar. Overall, I am immensely grateful for my experience at WeEmpower. I am confident that the knowledge and skills I gained will significantly benefit my future professional career.
