In Principio_S1 2018_WEB

A L U M N I U P D A T E STANDING UP FOR REFUGEES SEEKING A BETTER LIFE Every day, some of the world’s poorest people leave the challenges of their homeland for a new life abroad. More often than not, their journey to the ‘promised land’ is far from smooth. Notre Dame graduate, Gabrielle Nind , was on the front-line in Greece to help refugees fleeing war-torn Syria, ensuring the new arrivals were given shelter, food and much needed medical supplies. BACHELOR OF ARTS (SOCIAL JUSTICE, POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) (2016) SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES, FREMANTLE After graduating from Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Politics and International Relations, with a Minor in Social Justice I decided to further my studies by enrolling in the Master of Philosophy program. Threemonths in, I realised that I needed to gain experience in my field rather than focusing on the theoretical aspects. The opportunity to volunteer at a refugee camp took me to Chios, Greece, working with the Chios Eastern Shore Response Team (CESRT) – a not-for-profit group providing on-the-ground emergency care to refugees fleeing through Turkey to Greece. I established a fundraising campaign called ‘Stand Up for Syria’ in order to raise funds for my training, medical expenses and donations to CESRT. As the Team Leader of more than 30 other volunteers, I was on call 24/7 to meet the refugee boats. In what was a very demanding role, I had to make sure that not only did we have enough blankets, food, water, and medical supplies, but that we were able to reach the refugees at the port or beach to attend to them with these supplies and health care before they were taken to the camps. Even though these times were incredibly stressful and challenging, it was the most rewarding experience of my life. I am now establishing my own not-for-profit as a continuation of Stand Up for Syria. I plan to complete a Master of Public Policy and Management at Melbourne University as my career focus is to become an advocate for refugees and work for the Australian Government in Public Policy. RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH WORLD’S TOP JOURNOS Living in a community torn apart by women’s rights abuses and government / rebel battles, for Melissa Jaimes-Ochoa the pen was definitely mightier than the sword. Melissa has used her media career at the Colombia Plural to campaign for women’s rights and protect vulnerable youth from violence. BACHELOR OF ARTS (SOCIAL JUSTICE) (2013) SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES, FREMANTLE The opportunity to network with the world’s top journalists in New York was a life-changing experience. I graduated from Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Social Justice. Living and studying in Australia was the most incredible experience of my life. Soon after I graduated in 2013, I moved back to my home town in Quibdo, Colombia. The combination of communications and journalism with social justice provided a solid foundation for me to help construct a more egalitarian Colombian society. I joined a national women’s movement for the prevention of violence against women and worked tirelessly to defend and protect their human rights. As an investigative journalist at the Colombia Plural, I have covered stories on social justice issues affecting Afro and Indigenous people of Colombia. I was the only Colombian journalist, and one of only 15 journalists from across the world, chosen to participate in the United Nations Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship in September 2017. During this trip to New York, I had the privilege of working with several awarded journalists from around the world and visited several news organisations such as the New York Times and the Associated Press. As a social activist, it was great to know more about the UN’s work, especially with Colombia`s peace process after years of conflict between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. Currently, I work with vulnerable children and youth in preventing violence by creating safe environments through education and arts.