Duke Desarrolla receives 2020-2021 International Award for Student Group

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) congratulates Duke Desarrolla for being awarded the 2020-2021 International Award for Student Group of the Year!

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This is the second annual program of awards given by International House to celebrate the achievements and contributions of students and student groups who benefit the international community at Duke and to honor the legacy of the International House and internationalism at Duke. 

The Student Group of the Year is awarded to a cultural and/or ethnic student group that has been engaged on promoting intercultural understanding. CLACS nominated Duke Desarrolla for their outstanding collaboration for the past five years, encouraging partnerships between Duke students, the community, faculty, researchers, parents, and entities on the continent.

“This group of students believes that the problems and needs in Latin America can be addressed and solved,” said Miguel Rojas-Sotelo, CLACS special events coordinator. “They believe that people in Latin America have the power and ability to contribute to the development of their own countries.”

Duke Desarrolla believes that both Duke and collaborators in Latin America can bring different but equally valuable assets to the table and maximize results, and that development of a country it is essential to empower the communities and allow them to take ownership of the solutions to their needs.

Even under stringent conditions during Covid 19, the students were able to keep projects functioning in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Brazil, and Uruguay. Their work on Global Health, STEM curriculum, Women Empowerment, and Sustainable Development shows clearly the multidisciplinary nature of the students and their education (measured by service) at Duke.

On Nov. 5, 2020, Duke Desarrolla organized an event, “Latin American Response to COVID-19,” and invited Dr. Ricardo Fábrega, current Regional Advisor of Health Services Delivery at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), for a conversation on the ramifications of the current pandemic and its effect on the Latin American communities and health systems.

CLACS applauds all members of Duke Desarrolla, including their executive committee: Joslin Coggan, president; Emily Marun, vice president; Danah Younis, student event management officer; and Meghan Miller, Treasurer.

For more information about the group please visit http://www.dukedesarrolla.com/