Speakers Wah Ku Shee, Phyu Phyu Sann and Toe Toe

Relaying accounts of their struggles and ultimate survival under a brutal regime, three women activists from Burma, Wah Ku Shee, Toe Toe and Phyu Phyu Sann, spoke at the School of Social Work Wednesday, as part of CUPID’s featured monthly development dialogue.

Earlier in the month, Wah Ku Shee and Toe Toe traveled from their current homes in Thailand where they now live in exile near the Burma border to lobby at the UNGA regarding their current advocacy campaign calling for a Commission of Inquiry on Burma and to share the realities of the current situation of women in Burma who are often targeted for human rights abuses – including the use of rape as a weapon of war. Additionally, Phyu Phyu Sann, current resident of NYC of and Burma researcher at the Global Justice Center, gave an introductory background on Burma, it’s current military state and a glimpse into the increased conflict that may arise in the immediate future considering the upcoming regime-led election scheduled for November 7, 2010.

Activist Toe Toe shared her story of how she fled Burma to live in Thailand in search of a better life only to end up living illegally in the country as a migrant worker, making little more than one dollar a day. Exploited by factory workers, she lived in constant fear of arrest and deportation. However, her story is a triumphant one as she has been able to use her voice as a strong advocate for migrant workers’ rights and the people who presently live oppressed in her home country, unable to utter a word in opposition of their country without the risk of receiving a lengthy jail sentence. Currently, she works with the Women’s League of Burma representing Burmese Women’s Union where she also worked on the CEDAW Shadow Report, travelling to Geneva as part of the submitting group.

Wah Ku Shee, another delegate from the Women’s League of Burma also has quite a bit of experience advocating for the human rights of the people of Burma internationally. On Wednesday, she shared a powerful presentation on the some of the horrors the ethnic minorities must endure as the regime targets them in effort to suppress ethnic populations. Often attacked in the jungle and in their remote villages, they face high mortality rates with little hope of adequate medical care. Counseling for their psychological traumas is virtually nonexistent. However, her personal story is also one of resilience and inspiration as she has remained a strong advocate for the Karen women of eastern Burma for over nine years.

For more information, please visit the US Campaign for Burma’s website at uscampaignforburma.org

TO GET THINGS STARTED THIS YEAR, JOIN US FOR OUR KICK-OFF EVENT
–FEATURING KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY DR. GRACE KODINDO.

When:  Wednesday, September 15th, 7-9PM
Where:  The Underground Lounge (955 West End Ave. at the corner of W107th and Broadway)

Come out and meet other students and faculty interested in International Development * Learn how to get involved * Food and Drinks provided by CUPID

Check out the flyer here!

If you’d like to get more involved as a student representative or part of our executive board, take a moment to download and fill out our interest form.  Deadline to apply is Midnight on September 20th.  Please email applications to Taylor Conger (tmc2144@columbia.edu) or Janna Metzler (jlm2200@columbia.edu).

Angelie

CUPID Co-president 2009-2010

Some CUPID board members taking a break from final exams during our the End of the Year Picnic in the courtyard near Hamilton Hall

Panelists following Sahba Sobhani’s (not shown) presentation.

Sahba Sobhani presenting to students and faculty at SIPA

-Angelie Singh

Every year CUPID hosts an event to bring together students, alumni and
friends who harbor a passion for international development. This year
we will be taking the energy to Havana Central on the Upper West side
in NYC for great food, great wine, music from Franklin Fisher and
Friends, and a chance to hear from the Dr. Richard Deckelbaum–a
leader in integrating basic scientific discovery with capacity
building in global health. There will also be a silent auction and
raffle with proceeds going towards CUPID’s community initiatives in
the Dominican Republic and Colombia. Please reserve your ticket in
advance, as space is limited. Every ticket includes the cost of dinner
and two drinks–an incredible deal! (Tickets purchased at student
price will be verified with current student ID at door).

Please do not hesitate to contact Angelie Singh at as3574@columbia.edu
if you have any questions.

2.  CUPID Spring Bike Ride
Date:  April 17th (Rain Date: May 2)
Time:  10:30AM
Location: St. Clair Pl on Hudson River St. Clair (just south of 125th
Street, all the way west to the river)

All CUPID members are cordially invited to join a group of energetic,
international development-minded students on a morning bike ride from
Columbia University, through Manhattan to Brooklyn, ending in either a
picnic lunch. For more information and rsvp link, please follow this url:  http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/TTJQNUQPHCAVWAXRNIDA/cupidbikeride

3.  CUPID Review is an annual online publication showcasing Columbia
students’ experiences with international development through different
media and disciplines of study.

2010 Inaugural Theme: Party like it’s 2015–Progressing Toward the Millennium Development Goals

Invited submissions include both academic and creative forms of
writing, artwork and visual media. This may include, but is not
limited to: scholarly research, project proposals and evaluations,
policy analysis, personal reflection essays, poetry and short stories,
short video clips, visual art, and photography. For visual pieces,
please provide a written description of how your work contributes to
the Review Theme.

Submissions are due April 12, 2010. Papers/links to visual media files
should be emailed tocupidjournal@gmail.com.

4. CUPID’s Final General Body meeting will take place Monday, April 26th at 8pm on the Morningside Campus (room TBC). Here end of the year announcements and join fellow students in an open forum on international development–a casual collective of individuals and all student groups.
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CUPID CO-SPONSORED EVENTS

1. Effective Public-Private Partnerships in Development

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
6:00pm-8:30pm
Rm. 707, Columbia’s International Affairs Building, NYC

Moderated by:
Glenn Denning, Assoc. Director, Center for Globalization & Sust. Development. Former Director MDG Centre, Nairobi

Featuring:
Lisa Dreier, Director, Food Security & Development Initiatives World Economic Forum USA

Chong-Lim Lee, Senior Manager, Partnerships; The Synergos Institute

Eugenia McGill, Associate Director, Economic & Political Development Concentration Director, Workshop in Development Practice, SIPA

Sahba Sobhani, Programme Manager, Growing Inclusive Markets Initiative; Private Sector Division, Partnerships Bureau, UNDP

Presenting:
“The Colors of Development” Ad hoc art exhibition by Jessica Gomez

Wine & hors d’oeuvres reception to follow.

Sponsored by:
CUPID- Columbia University’s Partnership for International Development
MPA-DP- The students of SIPA’s MPA in Development Practice
EPD- SIPA’s Economic and Political Development program

2. The Physician as Activist and Public Health Leader

A memorial to celebrate Alan Berkman, MD (1945-2009). Vice Chair,
Department of Epidemiology. Associate Professor of Epidemiology and
Sociomedical Sciences

As a teacher, scholar, mentor, AIDS physician, and crusader for social
justice, Dr. Berkman touched the lives of countless individuals, and
in so doing enriched and improved them. His sustained passion and
outrage in the face of social injustice was balanced by his unfailing
interpersonal tolerance, gentleness and generosity. His moral courage
and strength in the face of adversity continue to be an inspiration to
us all.  Please join us for this very special celebration, featuring
video of Alan?s life as an activist and words about Alan?s work and
character from Wafaa El-Sadr, Ezra Susser, Robert Remien, Quarraisha
Abdool-Karim, Ameena Goga, Faluke Salu, David Hoos and Francine Cournos.

For more details:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115630638449088&ref=ts

Friday April 23, 2010
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Alumni auditorium
630 West 168th Street, first floor

3.  GiSCA Palooza 2010: An Evening of the Arts and Social Change

Date: April 23rd
Time:  7-9pm
Location:  Milbank Chapel, Teachers College

Join us for a participatory, multidisciplinary production of space and
sound, disruption and magic, featuring works ranging from John Cage’s
“In the Name of the Holocaust” to Eve Ensler’s “Vagina Monologues,”
original film and spoken word, and an installation of the Democracy
Wall from Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

Come to provoke and be provoked.  Dialogue will be facilitated
throughout by Prof. John Baldacchino (Art & Art Education) and Prof.
Molly Quinn (Curriculum & Teaching).  Free refreshments and an after-
party to follow.

Co-Sponsored by the Teachers College Vice President’s Diversity and
Community Initiatives Fund and CUPID.

1. The Double Burden of Disease: Is Globalization Changing the Face of Disease?

Date: April 7, 2010

Time:  6:30 – 8:00 PM

Location:  Humphrey Auditorium, 14th Floor, Room 240, Vanderbilt Clinic, 622 168th Street

As the food supply becomes global, developing nations increasingly face the burden of both over and under nutrition. This nutrition transition is associated with increasing rates of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Henry Greenberg, co-author of ?A Race Against Time: The Challenge of Cardiovascular Disease in Developing Economies? will come to speak to us about the nature of this increase in non-communicable disease and its impact on the health systems in developing nations.

Featuring: Dr. Henry Greenberg, Editor-in-chief, Progress in Cardiovascular

Diseases; Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Associate Director, Cardiology, St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital

2.  CUPID Spring Bike Ride

Date:  April 17th

Time:  10:30AM

Location: St. Clair Pl on Hudson River St. Clair (just south of 125th Street, all the way west to the river)

All CUPID members are cordially invited to join a group of energetic, international development-minded students on a morning bike ride from Columbia University, through Manhattan to Brooklyn, ending in either a picnic lunch or hot food vendor spree!

For more information and rsvp link

3.  Invitation to vote for the CUPID Board

Dear CUPID Members,

Please vote for candidates running for the positions of VP of Programs and VP of Finances through our online survey.

Voting ends this Friday, April 9th at 5pm. CUPID’s 2010-2011 Executive Board will be announced in next week’s newsletter.

Thank you,

Angelie and Cat

4.  CUPID’s Annual Alumni Event

Date:  April 30, 2010

Time:  6-9pm

Location:  Backroom at Havana Central

Development in 2010: CUPID’s Annual Alumni Event Dinner, Wine, and Live Music for Columbia Alum and Students!

Keynote Address with Dr. Richard Deckelbaum.

Musical Guests: Franklin Fisher and The Heights Collective (TBC).

Tickets will be available for purchase soon through CU TICs so be ready to get them right away! They will cost $12 for Students with CUID, $30 for CU Alum, which covers a delicious Cuban dinner and two drinks (incredible deal!). Space will be limited.

5.  CUPID Review is an annual online publication showcasing Columbia students’ experiences with international development through different media and disciplines of study.

2010 Inaugural Theme

Party like it’s 2015: Progressing Toward the Millennium Development Goals

Invited submissions include both academic and creative forms of writing, artwork and visual media. This may include, but is not limited to: scholarly research, project proposals and evaluations, policy analysis, personal reflection essays, poetry and short stories, short video clips, visual art, and photography. For visual pieces, please provide a written description of how your work contributes to the Review Theme.

Submissions are due April 12, 2010. Papers/links to visual media files should be emailed to cupidjournal@gmail.com.

***************************************************************

CUPID CO-SPONSORED EVENTS

GiSCA Palooza 2010

An Evening of the Arts and Social Change

Date: April 23rd

Time:  7-9pm

Location:  Milbank Chapel, Teachers College

Join us for a participatory, multidisciplinary production of space and sound, disruption and magic, featuring works ranging from John Cage’s “In the Name of the Holocaust” to Eve Ensler’s “Vagina Monologues,” original film and spoken word, and an installation of the Democracy Wall from Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

Come to provoke and be provoked.  Dialogue will be facilitated throughout by Prof. John Baldacchino (Art & Art Education) and Prof. Molly Quinn (Curriculum & Teaching).  Free refreshments and an after-party to follow.

Co-Sponsored by the Teachers College Vice President’s Diversity and Community Initiatives Fund.

*************************************************************

A Development Dialogue hosted by CUPID Representatives from the Graduate School of Architecture, Preservation, and Planning

Who: Alfredo Brillembourg & Hubert Klumpner

Urban Think Tank / SLUM Lab

When: Tuesday, March 30, 6:30-8pm

Where: Avery Ware (6th Floor)

Refreshments Provided

3.  “Unlocking the Power of Collaboration and Technology for Development?

Date:  Thursday, April 1st

Time:  12:30 PM – 2:00 PM

Location:  Feldberg Lounge, Warren Hall

Following the recent disaster in Haiti, the World Bank partnered with major players such as Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and McKinsey to engage volunteers to create technical tool to be used by the government of Haiti in the reconstruction. This discussion will explore the effective private sector collaboration with the World Bank in response to the earthquake in Haiti as well the potential of private sector collaboration to help mitigate the impact of additional disasters, such as that in Chile, before they happen. This project leveraged the expertise of each respective company and engaged volunteer technical communities. This application is continuously being updated and improved and is used as a decision-making tool by each line minister in Haiti to begin planning for reconstruction.

Featuring speakers from McKinsey, Microsoft, Crisis Commons & The World Bank.  Lunch will be served.

Speakers:

Michael Chui, Senior Fellow, McKinsey Global Institute

Stuart Gill, Disaster Risk Management Specialist, The World Bank

Marc Forni, Disaster Risk Financing Analyst, The World Bank

Patrick Svenburg, Sr. Manager, Developer and Platform Evangelist, Microsoft

Heather Blanchard, Co Founder, Crisis Commons

Moderator:  Professor Garrett Van Ryzin

Click Here to RSVP!<https://www4.gsb.columbia.edu/events/view?&top.title=Unlocking+the+Power+of+Collaboration+and+Technology+for+Development+in+Haiti&main.id=733451&main.ctrl=eventmgr.detail&main.view=eventb.single>

4.  CUPID Spring Bike Ride (April 17th OR May 2nd)

All CUPID members are cordially invited to join a group of energetic, international development-minded students on a morning bike ride from Columbia University, through Manhattan to Brooklyn, ending in either a picnic lunch or hot food vendor spree!

For more information and rsvp link, please follow this url:  http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/TTJQNUQPHCAVWAXRNIDA/cupidbikeride

5.  Invitation to the entire CUPID community to run for open CUPID board positions.

Open positions (number available):

VP of Programs (1)

VP of Finances (2)

VP of Communications (1)

Conference Chairs (2)

Journal Chair (1)

Potential Candidates should submit about a 200 word statement describing their backgrounds and interests in the position. Statements are DUE BY 5pm, APRIL 2, 2010. Statements will then be posted through a SurveyMonkey poll for a vote by CUPID listserve members. All decisions will then be approved CUPID’s current executive board. If you are interested in any of the above positions, please contact Angelie Singh at as3574@columbia.edu for details on responsibilities.

6.  Save the Date!  CUPID’s Annual Alumni Event

Date:  April 30, 2010

Time:  6-9pm

Location:  Backroom at Havana Central

Development in 2010: CUPID’s Annual Alumni Event Dinner, Wine, and Live Music for Columbia Alum and Students!

Keynote Address with Dr. Richard Deckelbaum.

Musical Guests: Franklin Fisher and The Heights Collective (TBC).

Tickets will be available for purchase soon through CU TICs so be ready to get them right away! They will cost $12 for Students with CUID, $30 for CU Alum, which covers a delicious Cuban dinner and two drinks (incredible deal!). Space will be limited.

7.  CUPID is looking for student groups to highlight at our monthly general assembly meetings in a new series title “Student Group Spotlight.” If your group has an international development focus, and you would like to inform a larger body of students from Columbia of your mission and upcoming projects and events, please contact us at cupid@columbia.edu with your group name, mission statement, and presentation ideas.

***************************************************************

CUPID CO-SPONSORED EVENTS

1. The Double Burden of Disease: Is Globalization Changing the Face of Disease?

Date: April 7, 2010

Time:  6:30 – 8:00 PM

Location:  Humphrey Auditorium, 14th Floor, Room 240, Vanderbilt Clinic, 622 168th Street

As the food supply becomes global, developing nations increasingly face the burden of both over and under nutrition. This nutrition transition is associated with increasing rates of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Henry Greenberg, co-author of ?A Race Against Time: The Challenge of Cardiovascular Disease in Developing Economies? will come to speak to us about the nature of this increase in non-communicable disease and its impact on the health systems in developing nations.

Featuring: Dr. Henry Greenberg, Editor-in-chief, Progress in Cardiovascular

Diseases; Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Associate Director, Cardiology, St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital

*************************************************************

1. CUPID Spring Bike Ride (April 17th OR May 2nd)

All CUPID members are cordially invited to join a group of energetic, international development-minded students on a morning bike ride from Columbia University, through Manhattan to Brooklyn, ending in either a picnic lunch or hot food vendor spree!

For more information and rsvp link, please follow this url:

http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/TTJQNUQPHCAVWAXRNIDA/cupidbikeride

2. CUPID Review: Call for submissions

CUPID Review is an annual online publication showcasing Columbia students’ experiences with international development through different media and disciplines of study.

2010 Inaugural Theme: Party like it’s 2015: Progressing Toward the

Millennium Development Goals

Invited submissions include both academic and creative forms of writing, artwork and visual media. This may include, but is not limited to: scholarly research, project proposals and evaluations, policy analysis, personal reflection essays, poetry and short stories, short video clips, visual art, and photography. For visual pieces, please provide a written description of how your work contributes to the Review Theme.

Submissions are due March 15, 2010. Papers/links to visual media files should be emailed to cupidjournal@gmail.com.

3.  CUPID is looking for student groups to highlight at our monthly general assembly meetings in a new series title “Student Group Spotlight.” If your group has an international development focus, and you would like to inform a larger body of students from Columbia of your mission and upcoming projects and events, please contact us at cupid@columbia.edu with your group name, mission statement, and presentation ideas.

***************************************************************

CUPID CO-SPONSORED EVENTS

1. Public Health & Human Rights: Translating Research to Advocacy

Date:  Thursday, March 4

Time:  5:30 – 7 pm

Location:  Hess Commons, Rosenfield Building, 722 W. 168th St (near 168th 1/A/C stop), Columbia Mailman School of Public Health

*Dinner provided*

Panel Speakers:

Joseph Amon, Ph.D., Director of Health and Human Rights division, Human Rights Watch

Jonathan Cohen, J.D., Director of Law and Health Initiative, Open Society Institute

Sara L.M. Davis, Ph.D., Executive Director, Asia Catalyst

CUPID Development Dialog, co-sponsored by Global Health Forum 

DATE:  February 22, 2010

TIME:  8-9PM

LOCATION:  Hamilton Hall, Morningside Campus, Room 304

Spotlight Student Group:  There is Hope, Mission Haiti

2. CUPID’s Community Initiatives Summer Abroad Fellows Program Information Sessions

Come to an Information Session for Summer Opportunities in the Dominican Republic and Colombia.  All Columbia students invited to apply

Interested applicants are encouraged to attend at least one of the following information sessions:

Wednesday, February 24th, 7-8 p.m. at Teachers College, Russell Hall 306 (3rdFloor of Teachers College Library)

Thursday, February 25th, 8-9 p.m. at Teachers College, Russell Hall 305 (3rdFloor of Teachers College Library)

Teachers College is located at 525 W. 120th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam)

Please read below for a short description of our partnering organizations and the CUPID Summer Fellow positions available.

For more information and to download an application form, go to http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cupid/Initiatives.html or email us at cupidinitiatives@gmail.com

Volunteers Colombia

Volunteers Colombia (VC) is a young organization that works with the island community of Baru within the Department of Bolivar in the Caribbean region of Colombia. The Department of Bolivar is not only one of the poorest departments in the country, but also one of the departments with the most inequalities. The community of Baru suffers from extreme poverty and faces different social challenges such as early onset of sexual relations that lead to high numbers of teen pregnancy and low educational achievement. The CUPID positions offered will address these issues from a multidisciplinary perspective, making for an extraordinary professional summer experience.

Description of the Positions:

The CUPID Summer Fellows in Baru will work in the areas of educational and social welfare. In education, the fellows will develop internal assessments designed to measure the effects of a newly-implemented ESL program and examine the potential for vocational education related to the growing tourism industry on the island. In social welfare, the CUPID Fellows will examine the socio-cultural background of the community. One of the main challenges of VC’s work on the island is understanding issues that are not related to formal education but that may constitute obstacles for students to enter the workforce or higher education upon graduation. The intern will conduct research that provides better understanding of these issues.

Global Potential

Global Potential (GP) is a non-profit organization that empowers low-income, urban youth in the U.S. to create positive change in their lives and communities. For 12 weeks, youth participants from New York area high schools engage in an intensive social entrepreneurship and leadership training program where they gain skills and knowledge that will prepare them to live and volunteer for six weeks in a rural village in the Dominican Republic where they engage in community service and internships, gaining practical experience with local professionals.

Description of the Positions:

The CUPID Summer Fellows will work with community members from poor, rural communities in the Dominican Republic and with at-risk youth from Brooklyn high schools as they engage in a collaborative service project. Within the Dominican Republic, the interns will work with a range of individuals ranging from Directors of NGOs, government and other public officials, local pastors, community leaders, youth, children, parents, and individual community members. This interdisciplinary project has already had CUPID Fellows and their positive experiences are the evidence of the great opportunity GP represents for all who want a professional internship for this coming summer.

3. CUPID Review: Call for submissions

CUPID Review is an annual online publication showcasing Columbia students’ experiences with international development through different media and disciplines of study.

2010 Inaugural Theme: Party like it’s 2015: Progressing Toward the Millennium Development Goals

Invited submissions include both academic and creative forms of writing, artwork and visual media. This may include, but is not limited to: scholarly research, project proposals and evaluations, policy analysis, personal reflection essays, poetry and short stories, short video clips, visual art, and photography. For visual pieces, please provide a written description of how your work contributes to the Review Theme.

Submissions are due March 15, 2010. Papers/links to visual media files should be emailed to cupidjournal@gmail.com.

4.  Blinded by Open Arms Film Screening

Date:  Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Time:  8 – 10 PM

Location:  Roone Arledge Cinema, Alfred Lerner Hall, Columbia University

Come join CU Global Brigades and CUPID for a FREE film screening of the 2008 documentary Blinded by Open Arms! Blinded by Open Arms shows the tragic situation currently present among Honduran youth and their struggle for survival. Family disintegration, poverty, poor education and lack of employment lead the youth to drug use, gang involvement, and homelessness. The film captures the deteriorating situation in Honduras by showing the deplorable conditions through the stories that are told on screen. Then, learn how you can help create sustainable projects to address these critical issues. RSVP here!

Each spring, the Columbia University Partnership for International Development (CUPID) holds a conference at Columbia University based on a relevant international development issue. The conference gathers a multidisciplinary panel of scholars and practitioners to present and discuss their perspectives on specific issues in international development. The year’s half-day event will evaluate and discuss pertinent issues surrounding the developing world’s access to health. In particular, the conference will consist of a keynote presentation, a panel on micro-insurance, student presentations where masters and doctoral students will showcase their research, and finally an expert debate on HIV/AIDS spending. The conference will serve to cultivate greater awareness of the social and economic impacts of healthcare access in developing countries.

1-1:30               Welcome and Introductions
1:30-2:30          Keynote Address, Emi MacLean, US Director of the Access to Essential Medicines Campaign, Doctors without Borders
2:30-2:45          Break
2:45- 4:15         Microinsurance: The Key to Improving Health in Developing Countries?
4:30- 5:45        Speed Presentation Session
5:45-6:00         Break
6:00-7:00        Debate: Is the World Spending too much on HIV/AIDS?
7:00-8:00        Wine and Cheese Reception

Visit the Conference Website

Click here to pre-register for our 2010 Conference

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