Responding to World Crises:
Wellesley in the World
Wellesley’s mandate has been one of service to the world since its founding. Wellesley founder, Henry Fowle Durant, charged students and alumnae to “live lives of noblest usefulness.” The Wellesley College Tsunami Relief Committee was formed to determine ways in which the college can most effectively respond to the December 26, 2004, tsunami disaster in South and Southeast Asia. Durant’s charge underscores the range of programmatic responses Wellesley is undertaking to contribute to the unprecedented need growing out of this crisis and serves as the foundation for Wellesley’s primary response, the development of a new internship program entitled Wellesley in the World: Responding to World Crises.
Wellesley in the World – Responding to World Crises internships are an extension of Wellesley’s mission and motto. Through these experiential learning opportunities, Wellesley women will address global needs and serve others during times of crisis. They will also learn about the human response to crisis by living it. These structured, financially supported internships will be for students volunteering in relief efforts in the affected areas. The program will be developed and administered by the Center for Work and Service. The depth of knowledge and understanding they will acquire could not be achieved in a traditional classroom setting.
Identifying Projects
In order to ensure that the needs of the affected population(s) are met as
well as the needs of Wellesley students, Wellesley faculty members are identifying
appropriate and meaningful internship opportunities. In South and Southeast
Asia, Wellesley would like to create lasting partnerships with organizations
in each of the most countries most profoundly affected by the tsunami – Indonesia,
Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand. Clinics, schools, orphanages, and other community
centers that provide basic education, health, and housing needs for women and
children who were disproportionately affected by the tsunami represent potential
internship sites.
For a period to be determined (probably three to five years), students participating in tsunami-related internships will be also be eligible to apply for funding beyond their stipend to offset supplies and other items needed to support the projects on which they will be working.