Paegar, a native of Monrovia, Liberia, had set up an internship there when the Ebola outbreak suddenly spiraled out of control. His quick decision-making and networking resulted in other opportunities, however.

He spent eight weeks with , an environmental solutions consultancy in Rockville, Maryland, and four weeks with the grassroots organization in Nairobi, Kenya.

“Both internships equipped me with valuable knowledge and skills in the area of environmental policy, a field in which I’m looking to pursue a professional career,” he said. Paegar hopes to continue to graduate school and then eventually return to Liberia.

Here, he talks more about his experiences.

How did you set up these internships?

I had initially planned to intern in Liberia with the Society for the Conservation of Nature in Liberia. However, because the Ebola outbreak hadn’t been contained, as well as the fact that their operations are based in the areas severely affected by the outbreak, I decided to call off the trip. Fortunately, I found that I.M. Systems Group had once worked in Liberia and partnered with SCNL. Thus, I used my contacts from Liberia to inquire about the possibility of obtaining an internship with I.M. Systems Group. My credentials were later requested, followed by an interview and I was awarded the internship.

The Green Belt Movement internship came from a recommendation. I sat at the same table as Nobel Laureate , MA ‘07, when she visited campus in February to speak at the . Her family and mine are close friends. When she asked about my summer plans, I indicated that I was seeking an internship to fulfill my practicum requirements. She provided several suggestions, instructed me to e-mail my resume to her, and later introduced me to the directors of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, who recommended me to the Green Belt Movement.

What were your responsibilities at I.M. Systems Group?

I worked on a research team that reviewed the existing environmental policies, concepts and frameworks in the context of mangrove restoration, climate change adaptation and poverty reduction in the Southeast Asia region. We researched and proposed several projects aimed at providing economic justification to support the restoration of marine ecosystems and coastal habitats in the Philippines, as well as improving the country’s coastal economy. The research was published in a review paper, which assesses the outcomes of several mangrove restoration initiatives in the Philippines and suggests a sustainable solution to future restoration initiatives.

What were your responsibilities at The Green Belt Movement?

The Green Belt Movement (GBM), founded in the late 1970s by Wangari Maathai of Kenya, empowers communities, particularly women in those communities, to conserve the environment and improve livelihoods. I worked at the headquarters in Nairobi in the climate change and corporate partnership division.

The GBM contributes to Kenya’s national climate change consultation group. As Kenya had recently adopted a National Climate Change Action Plan, our task included reviewing the national climate change position papers and identifying questions about the government’s priorities in responding to climate change. These inquiries were not exclusive to the Kenyan context as many involved questioning of global, regional and local policies and policymaking processes that ignore community engagement in decision-making, sustainable livelihoods and environmental conservation.

I also helped to review the “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions” policy ahead of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, France at the end of this year. Even developing nations who are particularly vulnerable to the deleterious impacts of climate change (but have done the least to cause the problem) are required to submit this.

I also worked on a program to train 400 women leaders from the Great Lakes Region in natural resource management and climate change mitigation/adaptation. These women would in turn train 20,000 individuals from several communities across East Africa. I observed a training session and learned about the approaches utilized by the GBM in its development projects.

Can you share a favorite experience with both internships?

I didn’t have a single favorite moment or experience. I found every single day exciting. I was motivated by the desire to learn hands-on from seasoned professionals in the field.

At the GBM, I was really impressed by the enthusiasm exemplified by the employees. It felt like a big family.

Other activities outside of the actual internship experience were also enlightening, like experiencing a different culture while in Kenya. I’m from Liberia, which is in West Africa, and Kenya is in East Africa. The cultures are distinct for the most part, but living for the past few years in the United States, I’ve observed that the fallacy of a monolithic African culture is often perpetuated; therefore, I found it interesting how different we were/are. I love and value diversity so that was exciting.

What would you tell a student who wants an internship?

This might sound cliché, but I’d tell a student who wants an internship to go for it, and not be scared to step outside your comfort zone. There are a lot of things out in the world waiting to be discovered. As Dr. Seuss said, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” You might just stumble upon something you love doing and that could end up being your profession.

Securing an internship: tips from Kimberly Phillips, Director of Career Services

Approximately 80% of job and internship seekers secure opportunities through networking. Gee proved that networking with family members, friends and professional contacts can be a successful strategy to gain experience. Perseverance and a back-up plan are helpful tools, as well!

Give yourself permission to try new experiences and to work with people and organizations you may not have previously considered. The more open you are to different options, the more opportunities you will find.

Faculty, staff and fellow students nominated the recipients, who were cited for their “significant and verifiable impact” on the university and on student life; for their contributions to developing the institution’s positive image; for substantial contributions to the Harrisonburg/ Rockingham County area and beyond; for their high academic and social standing; and their embodiment of 91����Ƶ’s shared values of Christian discipleship, community, service and peacebuilding.

They wore gold and blue cords during the graduation ceremony on Sunday, April 26.

Blue represents strength of conviction that one person can help to create a better institution or community.

Gold represents the love of spirit and yearning toward creating a better university environment or community.

2015 Cords of Distinction recipients

• Carissa Harnish, a major in biology and Spanish from Manheim, Pennsylvania
• Emma King, a major in digital media and communication and minor in journalism and photography from West Unity, Ohio
• Rachel King, a major in biology, from West Unity, Ohio
• Jacob Landis, a major in congregational and youth ministry and Biblical studies and minor in biology from Sterling, Illinois
• Rebecca Longenecker, a major in English and minor in mathematics from Lancaster, Pennsylvania
• Timothy (Jordan) Luther, a major in Biblical studies from Martinsville, Virginia
• Rebecca Martin, a major in history and minor in economics and Spanish from Akron, Pennsylvania
• Gee Paegar, Jr., a major in history and environmental sustainability and minor in political studies and international development from Monrovia, Liberia
• Erin Rheinheimer, a major in art with K-12 licensure and a minor in environmental sustainability from Alexandria, Virginia
• Emily Shenk, a major in liberal arts with an elementary education licensure from Goshen, Indiana

It also helped that Gbowee knew 91����Ƶ well. She had earned a in 2007.

Gbowee, a social worker who led a women’s peace movement that helped end Liberia’s civil war 10 years ago, addressed a fundraising dinner for over 100 people at 91����Ƶ on Feb. 7. Organized by the school’s International Student Organization, the event was followed by a public address to about 200 attendees, who put contributions into baskets passed by the students.

The events raised over $4,000 after expenses for the care of children whose parents died from Ebola. The funds will go to the Nobel winner’s in the Liberian capital of Monrovia. The foundation makes grants to grassroots groups, including two Liberian organizations founded by graduates of .

The countries hardest hit by Ebola, which started in March 2014, were Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, said Gbowee in her public address. The 3.4 million people of her country had only 51 doctors. “We were not prepared for Ebola, but Liberian civil society rose to the occasion,” she said. “We didn’t wait around for the international community to come and help us.”

Gbowee told the stories of three Liberian heroes – a doctor who cared for Ebola victims in his humble clinic at the risk of his own life, a taxi driver who transported dangerously infectious patients to the hospital, and a young man with a full-time job who provides care for orphans in his off hours.

The epidemic has finally abated in Africa, she said. The Ebola clinics are emptying and students are going back to school. But, she added, the people still live in fear, the economy is ruined and orphans abound.

“We appreciate the help of international organizations,” Gbowee said. “But sometimes they didn’t bother to consult with the local people about how to fight Ebola. They thought they had the expertise, but if you don’t really listen to what the people want, then it’s not much use.”

Gbowee has a reputation for speaking truth to power, most notably when she publicly confronted the president of Liberia during the country’s civil war. Most recently she criticized the United Nations’ humanitarian aid efforts during a meeting of the UN Security Council.

During a question-and-answer session at the conclusion of her speech, Gbowee praised young people for their idealism and gave advice on how to start on the path to activism. “Ideas that are ground-breaking and keep you awake at night might seem like crazy ideas,” she said. “But write them down, tell a friend and step out boldly. Getting angry about an unjust situation is not only okay, she added, but a good thing.

The students who organized the fundraiser represented five continents: Kaltuma Noorow and Nandi Onetu of Kenya, Winifred Gray-Johnson and Gee Paegar of Liberia, Sun Ju Lee of South Korea, Wael Gamtessa of Ethiopia, Brenda Soka of Tanzania, Zoe Parakuo of the United States, Norah Alobikan of Saudi Arabia, Danika Saucedo of Bolivia, Victoria Gunawan of Indonesia, and Marcus Ekman of Sweden. , 91����Ƶ’s director of , is the advisor for the International Student Organization.

Gbowee’s last trip to 91����Ƶ was in April 2014, when she was the that included her son, Joshua Mensah. Before that she came to campus in . Just prior to her arrival, the was announced, and thus her appearance made for a frenzied weekend.

Editor’s note: Kara Lofton, a 2014 91����Ƶ grad, reported on Gbowee’s appearance at the Ebola fundraiser for local public radio station WMRA; her four-minute report can be heard.