Appeal to give international experience
by
Rebecca Jenkins
Lee Pope will never forget the four months he spent working with the
poorest of poor in rural India this year.
The third-year social work student recently returned from his field placement based at the Rural Unit for Health and Social Affairs, in southern India.
Living in basic accommodation, working in intense humidity and witnessing the harshness of life in the surrounding communities, were among the challenges.
During his stay the 33-year-old father of two, from Whyalla, visited many families to survey their food and nutrition.
He found many were managing to feed a family of five on as little as 50c a day.
"It's just a totally new world, completely different from what I was used to," he said.
"The things I saw over there and the experiences were quite incredible. The poverty there is extreme."
"It's given me a whole new outlook"
Director: International and Development Dr Anna Ciccarelli said UniSA had always recognised how important it is for our students to gain real world experience, particularly when that experience is overseas.
To help students the University has developed the UniSA International Exchange Program and offers travel grants for air fares. But Dr Ciccarelli said sadly the experience is still out of reach for many of our disadvantaged students who cannot afford the minimum $5,000 needed for living expenses during a six-month exchange.
To help those students, the University has this year launched an appeal focused on providing the funds to enable worthy students to fulfill a dream of studying and working overseas.
"Our students grow and develop as individuals while our communities, organisations and companies benefit through increased intellectual capital and a greater understanding of global economies and cultures," Dr Ciccarelli said.
Lee Pope is just one of the many UniSA students who knows how valuable an experience living and working overseas is.
"It has been one of the hardest, yet most rewarding experiences of my life," Pope said. "I would encourage anyone who has a similar opportunity to go for it."