Bachir and Wanda, We Thank You!

Wanga engaging with local students at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center’s Teen Action Fair in March.

Bachir at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center’s Teen Action Fair in March promoting FIUTS homestay hosting.

FIUTS is a dynamic office: the ideas, energy, and support of a rich team of work-study students, interns, and young leaders from global exchange programs bolster the small full-time staff.
So we were excited to welcome Bachir Laouali Ousmane and Wanda Heydel to the FIUTS team this winter as Fellows through the Community Engagement Exchange Program. The Community Engagement Exchange is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board).
Wanda came to us after completing her master’s in Israel Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Warsaw, Poland. She brought great project management skills developed in her work at Client Earth, the international nonprofit for environmental law, and experiences leading community dialogues in the Middle East.
Bachir, a graduate of the African Development University Tillabéri, Niger, brought experience in peacebuilding, sports, youth engagement, and social entrepreneurship to FIUTS. His distinctive kindness, respect, and openness to new experiences helped him quickly integrate into our community, where he found opportunities to share his love of soccer and African and world music.
Over their 3-month fellowship, Wanda and Bachir designed and executed their own projects and collaborated on several visiting programs. They supported community events and facilitated discussions and training sessions. They participated in FIUTS CulturalFest and led activities on the FIUTS calendar.

All of us at FIUTS are so grateful to both Wanda and Bachir for bringing their expertise to FIUTS, and for their commitment to the FIUTS mission. We wish them the best of luck as they return home to apply what they’ve learned here to benefit their own communities.