Kathryn Wasserman Davis 100 Projects for Peace Awards Funding to Students from 66 Colleges and Universities

$1 Million to Fund 100 Projects as Davis Turns 100 Years Old

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 7, 2007
MARIA SIKORYAK-ROBINS
DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS

FAYETTEVILLE, NC—The Kathryn Wasserman Davis (KWD) 100 Projects for Peace program has announced that students from 66 colleges and universities will receive funding to undertake their proposed projects. Philanthropist Kathryn Wasserman Davis, on the occasion of her 100th birthday, established the new program with a donation of $1 million so that each of the projects will receive $10,000. The objective of the program is to encourage and support motivated youth to create and implement their ideas for building peace throughout the world in the 21st century.

KWD 100 Projects for Peace invited all students from schools participating in the Davis United World College (UWC) Scholars Program to submit a plan for their own grassroots projects for peace that the students themselves would implement during the summer of 2007. A competition for the funding took place on 65 of the 76 campuses in the UWC Scholars Program, which provides grants to select American colleges and universities in support of students from all over the world who have completed their pre-university studies at UWC schools.

“We are very grateful to all the students who submitted proposals and the many faculty and staff on all those campuses across the country who played a part in evaluating and submitting the students’ work,” said Executive Director of the Davis UWC Scholars Program Philip O. Geier. “Mrs. Davis, who just turned 100 years old in February, sends her congratulations to all the students for their creativity and commitment. She feels this is a wonderful way to celebrate her birthday.”

The winning projects propose specific plans of action that will have lasting effects—from youth empowerment and education programs to improved community water supplies worldwide to a multitude of agrarian enterprises in countries where famine is pervasive. Students will travel to more than 40 countries over the summer to implement their projects and report on their experiences once they return.

Three projects were selected from Methodist University. Sana Sabri, 23, a rising senior from India majoring in financial economics, will open a vocational center for women in Sahrarnapur—a small city in northern India. The center will help teach young to middle-aged women skills such as sewing and handicrafts. Sabri hopes these projects will empower women through education and prevent crime and prostitution that is an ever growing problem in her home country.

Rahila Muhibi, 22, a rising junior from Afghanistan majoring in global studies, is establishing “The Youth Leadership for Peace”—an organization that will host activities such as summer camps, offer community services and family picnics that promote international understanding among many individuals and ethnic groups. The organization will be headquartered in Neckpay, Baghlan, and will accept 20 youths ranging from 11 to 13 years of age.

The third project chosen from Methodist University was submitted by Husein Nasiro-Sigo, 21, a rising senior from Ethiopia majoring in business administration and computer science. His project will make quality drinking water available in his hometown. A 30 meter deep bore well will be constructed in Arsi province in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Nasiro-Sigo believes this will help deter the fighting for scarce resources amongst his people.

Davis, an internationalist and philanthropist and the mother of Shelby M.C. Davis, who funds the Davis UWC Scholars Program, said, “I want to use my 100th birthday to help young people launch some immediate initiatives—things that they can do during the summer of 2007 that will bring new thinking to the prospects of peace in the world.”

A complete list of the winning schools and projects, as well as a video interview with Davis from 2006, is available on the program’s Web site at www.kwd100projectsforpeace.org.

Methodist University is an independent four-year institution of higher education with over 2,100 students from 41 states and 30 countries. Methodist University offers over 70 majors and concentrations, three master’s degree programs, and 19 NCAA III intercollegiate sports. For more information contact the Office of University Relations at (910) 630-7043/7114.