Blog

An Aid Worker Tells the Harrowing Story of one Syrian Family’s Escape to Greece

By Jennifer Butte-Dahl, Applied International Studies Director at UW’s Jackson School, a Global Washington member

Reuters/Zohra Bensemra

In Lesbos, the sun is rising—illuminating a sea that hides tragedy below its surface. We are carrying family tents designed for humanitarian relief through the site, looking for empty spaces to set them up, when a man approaches our group and asks if we could use a hand. Two young boys stand at his side, eager to assist.

“I don’t want anything in return,” he says. “I just want to help.”

It’s another 90-degree Fahrenheit day under the Mediterranean sun on this small Greek island. Only six miles from the western shore of Turkey, Lesbos is the main gateway to Europe for thousands of families who arrive daily from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that over 258,000 migrants have arrived on the shores of Greece since the start of 2015. Almost half that number—122,400 as of Sep. 6—has come via Lesbos. For a small, picturesque Greek island with a local population of only 86,000 people, the influx of newcomers is overwhelming.

Click here to read the full article.

Seattle International Foundation Partners with the Institute Of International Education to Launch New Program for Central American Leaders

By Mauricio Vivero, CEO, Seattle International Foundation

Given Seattle’s strong leadership in global philanthropy and international development, it’s no surprise we are often called the “Silicon Valley of Philanthropy.”

This well-deserved reputation will surely continue to grow in the coming years. That’s because the Seattle International Foundation (SIF) is partnering with the Institute of International Education (IIE) to launch a prestigious new leadership development program to support high-impact leaders driving change in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua in Central America – a key focus area for the foundation. This new program, Centroamérica AdelanMauricio Viverote, identifies, trains and connects local leaders working on social change issues and provides fellows with specific skills training, mentorship and peer-to-peer learning, as well as the chance to travel and build their network of supporters and contacts.

Continue Reading

Getting The Most Out Of Your International Service Project

By Dr. John van Keppel

Participating in an international service project can be a major life experience. No matter where you are traveling or whether you’re a first-timer or a well-seasoned participant, the experience will most certainly open your eyes to the realities of how others live. The following are tips that will help you get the most out of your service project, from start to finish.

Continue Reading