Maria Osman (BA international studies ‘22) studied abroad in Jordan through the SIT Jordan: Refugees, Health, and Humanitarian Action program in fall 2022. While she expected to interact with Palestinians and Syrians who lived in refugee camps and to learn about the European and Turkish responses to humanitarian crises in the region, she didn’t expect this experience to inspire her to form her own non-profit charity, which would subsequently lead to a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) University fellowship.
While in Jordan, Osman met Sophonie Compas, who was also studying abroad. Through their coursework, they learned about the challenges associated with humanitarian response, and they realized they could do something to address those challenges.
“I learned that while there are many organizations responding to humanitarian crises, the biggest issue they face is money,” recalled Osman. “They are doing amazing work, but don’t have the funding. The idea for our non-profit charity came out of this conversation. We could pick organizations that are working on specific issues that we care about and raise money to support their efforts.”
Because this was something she had never done, Osman knew she needed support – the Clinton Global Initiative University was the answer. To apply to be a CGI fellow, Osman needed to devise a project to help get their organization, Posterity International, off the ground.
Because Posterity International follows the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - one of the rights being the right to education – Osman and Compas wanted to develop a sustainable project that supported safer environments for students which would lead to access to a more equal education.
"I didn’t think what I learned about refugees would help my career, but I didn’t see it coming. The people you meet really help you, and even though the price scared me, I was able to cover almost all the cost to study abroad with scholarships."
“We started sharing stories of things that happened to us at school,” said Osman, “and based on our personal experiences, we came up with creating a code of ethics within state departments of education with the hope that a national code of ethics could eventually be established.”
Most states in the U.S. don’t have a code of ethics for teachers and administrators. Tennessee is one of the few that does, and Osman hopes to use theirs as a starting point, first working to develop a code of ethics in Massachusetts, where their organization is based, and then working with the U.S. Department of Education to develop a national code.
Osman and Compas were invited to attend the 2023 CGI Annual Meeting in March. While 800 students attended the meeting, only 60 were selected to present their projects and Osman was one of them. Through CGI, Osman and Compas will receive mentorship and resources to help them advance their project.
Osman said that her experience abroad (which included a month-long internship), her studies at Iowa (which included receiving a certificate in human rights), and participating in the CGI University, have all given her a better perspective on what is going on in the world and what she can do about it.
Osman says students who are thinking about studying abroad should just do it, even if the idea seems daunting at first.
"I didn’t think what I learned about refugees would help my career, but I didn’t see it coming,” said Osman. “The people you meet really help you, and even though the price scared me, I was able to cover almost all the cost to study abroad with scholarships. There is so much money, especially for people who need financial aid. Apply for scholarships, even if you think you won’t get them. The worst thing they can say is no.”
With graduation behind her, Osman plans to continue her work with Posterity International. She also plans to apply for a Fulbright and will research graduate schools so she can further her studies in international development.
Take the first steps to study abroad
Maria Osman shares tips on how to pay for study abroad through scholarships
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.