P.E.O. INTERNATIONAL PEACE SCHOLARSHIP FUND | IPS
Roommates Discover Common Bond in IPS Serendipi t y brought three students at the Uni ver s i t y of Mar y l and together as roommates . Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina and Georgia, respectively, they found each other via social media and roommate-finder services. Only after they were settling into their new home did they realize they now shared an apartment and the support of the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (IPS) Fund.
P.E.O. sisters know that IPS fosters global peace through education by bringing women to the U.S. and Canada to further their education in an array of academic programs. The goal is for IPS alumnae to return home as assets to the nations they represent. But the impact of the personal connections is equally important. These three students have worked together to navigate their new lives in the U.S., from assembling IKEA furniture, to finding the nearest Costco, or serving as mentors to other international students on campus. They take pride in how much they learned and grew in their first semester, both inside and outside the classroom. The P.E.O. support and encouragement during their short time living and learning in a different country has exceeded their expectations. Lynn-Marie Edwards is from Trinidad and Tobago, where she practiced law in the Ministry of Education and as a judicial research counsel. She is pursuing a master’s degree in public management and hopes to manage a public service agency, such as the United Nations Development Program that administers the policies affecting major socio- economic issues like inequality, poverty and crime in her country. Lynn-Marie has met with a few of her Partners in Peace chapters and appreciates the support from the
visits, cards and emails. She states, “We are reaping the rewards for your championing education, and we are inspired by the trust you have in us. We want to make you proud.” Aldana Cantón is from Mendoza, Argentina. She is pursuing a master’s degree in public policy with an emphasis on international development policy. She has a bachelor’s in agricultural engineering and worked in the Argentinian Viticulture Corporation that helps small-scale grape producers compete in the value chain. She wants to work for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to improve agricultural, forestry and fishing practices to defeat hunger and reduce poverty in her country. Her long-term goal is to be the Agriculture Minister of Argentina. “So far, my time in the U.S. has exceeded my expectations,” Aldana explains, “Culturally, I have found a family that has opened its doors for me; academically, I am experiencing a different form of education that is interesting and challenging. Thank you for letting my dreams come true!” Sopiko Beriashvili is from Tbilisi, Georgia. She is pursuing a master’s degree in international education policy. Sopiko has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and worked for the American
Councils for International Education in a variety of capacities during and after her bachelor’s program. She wants to combine her background in the education field and her graduate study to effect change in education policymaking and build a high-quality and sustainable education system back in Georgia. Sopiko shares, “I feel so lucky to have been selected for the IPS award.” She is particularly grateful for the support from her Partners in Peace chapters, adding that “investing in women’s education is the best thing ever.” When someone asks about the global impact of P.E.O., think about these three women. The scholarship funds help them to pursue their dream to study in the U.S. The Partners in Peace chapters offer encouragement and support that reminds them they are not in this alone. Then consider the cultural and life lessons they’re learning while sharing an apartment and interacting with their peers, forming a bond of friendship and life experiences that will impact them the rest of their lives. IPS helps both the recipients and the Sisterhood Raise the Bar to the Stars .
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March–April 2022 | THE P.E.O. RECORD
WWW.PEOINTERNATIONAL.ORG
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