Digital Commons Network^™

Applied Theatre For Peacebuilding: Exploring The Value Of Embodied Practice, Emily Machin-Mayes

Capstone Collection

Arts, storytelling, theatre, and drama have been woven into strategic approaches to peacebuilding after conflict to engage with people’s experiences and emotions, share silenced stories, and build trust and empathy. Applied theatre challenges audience members to take a more active role, either through participating in the storytelling or acting itself or through dialogue and reflection activities. This collaborative art form has been used for community-building, reconciliation efforts as well as in post-conflict settings. This study examines the impact and value of an intensive applied theatre workshop, using participant-observation, and semi-structured interviews. Some of the qualitative findings include the value participants …

Youth Alchemy: Non-Formal Learning Around Identity & Agency, Jayashri Sarkar

Dissertation Collection

The social and educational disruption during confluence of COVID isolation and Black Lives Matter protests was critical to learning and agency amongst Youth of Color. This phenomenological qualitative study centers around Youth of Color in Providence, Rhode Island as they contested formal education and sought to make meaning of these events. Drawing on Amartya Sen’s capability approach, a series of in-depth phenomenological interviews with participants to explore the meaning they gleaned from their engagement in Youth-led emancipatory educational initiatives, particularly in terms of their sense of identity and agency. Although existing literature documents Youth resistance, this study explores Youth reflections …

Componiendo El Núcleo: Una Exploración De La Bomba Y La Identidad Afroecuatoriana En El Valle De Chota, Ethan Guok

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Este proyecto se centra en la bomba, una tradición musical y de danza afroecuatoriana que se practica en el valle del Chota, situado entre las provincias de Imbabura y Carchi, pero también más ampliamente en el Territorio Ancestral que comprende el valle del Chota, La Concepción, Salinas y Guallupe. Históricamente y en la actualidad, la bomba ha desempeñado un papel importante en la creación de comunidad y la preservación de la identidad cultural afrochoteña, y el conocimiento de cómo tocar la bomba se ha transmitido intergeneracionalmente a través de la tradición oral. Sin embargo, como tradición negra y oral, la …

Lo Nuestro: Turismo Y La Revalorización De La Cultura Kichwa Karanki En La Parroquia De Angochagua, Daltin Danser

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Utkalla yuyaykuna

Angochagua ayllu llaktapi, chiri suyu, Ecuador mama llaktamanta, kichwa Karanki runa kawsayka asha llaki kan, wakinka llukshishka ayllaktamanta hatun markakunaman yachana wasiman rinkapak, wakinka llamkakapak.

Chayra kay watakunapi shuk mushuk muyukuna wiñarikun Angochaguapi chikan mashikunata ñanta paskankapak.

Angochagua ayllu llaktaka kimichin chikan mashikunata, sumak allpata rikuchinkapak, shinallata runa kawsayta malichinkapak. 2022 watapi, Angochaguata riksichinkuna sumak llakta kashkamanta, 32 ayllu llaktakuna akllashka ashka hatun pachapi, Organización Mundial del Turismo tantanakuypi. Kay llamkayta rurankapakka achka mashikunata kay hawa tapurkani, kawsarkanipash kimsa hunkaykunata pakta pakta Potosi Chuquin ayllukunawan, Angochagua ayllu llaktapi.

Paykunawan allpapi llamkashpa, paykunawan mikushpa, maykunashina muskushpa. Kay llamkayka tantachin …

Los Porteadores Del Camino Inca: Conversaciones Y Perspectivas Sobre Los Efectos Del Turismo, Joshua Lipscomb

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Este estudio investiga las condiciones de trabajo, experiencias y percepciones sobre el turismo de los porteadores del Camino Inca. Para ello, se realizó trabajo de campo y entrevistas en profundidad a los porteadores. También se entrevistó a guías y ex-porteadores con el objetivo de conocer sus condiciones laborales: seguros, salarios, peso transportado, nutrición, equipamiento, oportunidades de empleo, sensación de trato justo e impacto sociocultural. En este trabajo se sostiene que todas las partes implicadas: el gobierno peruano, las agencias de turismo y los propios turistas, tienen una clara responsabilidad de mejorar las condiciones de estos trabajadores. La investigación ha puesto …

Un Análisis De Los Programas De Asistencia Para Varones Que Han Ejercido Violencia De Género En La Área Metropolitana De Buenos Aires (Amba). An Analysis Of Programs Of Assistance For Men Who Have Committed Gender Violence In The Metropolitan Area Of Buenos Aires., Shreya Shrestha

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

La violencia de género es una forma de opresión que tiene graves consecuencias para mujeres, niños y niñas y personas LGBTQ+ tanto en Argentina como en el resto del mundo. Históricamente, las iniciativas de prevención en este tema se han centrado en la asistencia destinada a las víctimas de situaciones de violencia, incluyendo apoyo económico y legal. Sin embargo, el hecho de que casi todos los casos de violencia están cometidos por varones ha iniciado una nueva discusión en las últimas décadas sobre los vínculos entre la masculinidad hegemónica y la violencia, junto con estrategías preventivas con el objetivo de …

Analysis Of The Effects Of Nafta On Rural Farmers In Mexico: Agriculture And Immigration, Kevin Xavier Garcia-Galindo

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research paper examines the effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on agricultural workers in rural Mexico and immigration rates from those regions. The paper aims to investigate the validity of claims regarding the impact of NAFTA on immigration and agriculture, which are often interconnected. By focusing on the rural farming communities of Mexico, the study incorporates ethnographic perspectives to complement existing academic research on NAFTA. The research question explores how NAFTA affected agricultural workers in rural Mexico and its implications for immigration patterns. Through a comprehensive literature review and interviews with individuals involved in rural farming, …

Environmental Loss, Displacement, And Anxiety In Portugal: Analyzing News Articles To Differentiate Manifestations Of Environmental Distress, Robin Greene

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Expressions of environmental distress can take different forms, with different symptoms, causes, and treatments. Existing literature generally identifies three primary categories of environmental distress responses: environmental grief, solastalgia, and eco-anxiety. This paper explores these distinctions and identifies words typically associated with each category in Portuguese news articles using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). LDA is a Natural Language Processing (NLP) technique that groups words into topics and identifies connections between those words based on how often those words appear together in sequences. This paper uses a modified LDA algorithm called GuidedLDA to identify additional keywords within topics defined by a list …

Surveillance Systems In Western Kenya: Methods, Perceptions, And Effectiveness, Marissa Duffy

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Surveillance is an important tool in monitoring and evaluating infectious disease patterns and trends. Surveillance is vital because it aids public health officials and medical professionals in creating better prevention methods and efficiently managing outbreaks. Kenya is home to many noncommunicable diseases making it an important location to conduct disease surveillance. Within Kenya, each county has its own surveillance unit which tracks and controls outbreaks. In addition, government run surveillance systems were established to determine disease burden, incidence, and patterns in specific at-risk communities around Kenya. One of these major surveillance systems is Population-Based Infectious Disease Surveillance (PBIDS) which has …

Exploring Inclusive Education Policy Implementation In Langa, Cape Town Through The Perspectives Of Educators At Just Grace, Caroline Connelly

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper analyzes my observations of inclusive education policy implementation for learners with learning challenges and disabilities at Just Grace, a non-profit organization in Langa, Cape Town, and Pinelands North Primary School, a school notorious for its inclusive approach to education. I spoke to four educators at Just Grace, including the Head of Academics, the Youth Development Program Director, the Youth Activation Program Director, and a teaching student who volunteers as an after-school tutor. At Pinelands North Primary School, I spoke to the principal and the Learning Support Coordinator. My interviews provided me with qualitative research, which only solely represents …

No Woman Left Behind: Women’S Lived Experiences, Purposes, And Perceptions On Female Genital Mutilation (Fgm) Of Maasai And Datoga Communities In Arusha, Tanzania, Audrey Tirrill

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Female genital mutilation (FGM) has been practiced for centuries around the world, currently FGM occurs in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Even though many counties like Tanzania has outlawed FGM and stating it is a violation of human rights, many people continue the procedure without adequate education on FGM. While believing the decline in number of FGM incidences and there is still a lack of local women perspectives and their respective lived experiences on the matter. This is particularly true in some Tanzanian rural and male dominated tribes where most women are educated with limited freedom of speech such …

Estudiantes Mapuche Universitarios: El Desarrollo De Conciencia Crítica Dentro La Sistema De Neoliberalismo Multicultural, Silvia Carias-Centeno

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The current education system in Chile has adopted a multicultural neoliberal model, in which education both as an institution and as a practice is conducted with neoliberal ideologies. Mapuche movements in Chile have largely battled against neoliberalism, which operates in conjunction with colonial practices. The identity of Mapuche people thus operates on a contradiction of neoliberal practices. This paper, centralizing critical educational literature and three interviews with Mapuche university students, strives to analyze this tension between Mapuche identity and student experiences under this neoliberal context. More specifically, this paper grapples with the political intention behind multicultural neoliberalism, and how it …

Centros De Inclusión Social Bajo Gestión Asociada Y La Salud Mental De Las Personas En Situación De Calle, Kien Phan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Esta investigación se enfoca en analizar las acciones del gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA) para abordar la salud mental de las personas en situación de calle en 2023. Se examina el estado actual de esta población, identificando factores clave y evaluando las medidas gubernamentales. El marco teórico aborda determinantes sociales y derechos humanos, subrayando la importancia de cambios legislativos para abordar la falta de vivienda. La metodología combina análisis de datos gubernamentales, estudios previos y entrevistas con profesionales de Centros de Inclusión Social. Las organizaciones de la sociedad civil, como Cáritas y la Asociación Civil Isauro …

La Práctica De Interculturalidad Crítica: Un Caso De Estudio De La Ong Corporación La Matriz Y La Comunidad Migrante Haitiana En Barrio Puerto, Valparaíso, Annessa Ihde

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Dadas las tensiones en torno al tema de la migración, donde se considera a los recién llegados como una amenaza para la sociedad, es vital comprender cómo las comunidades receptoras pueden promover y han promovido la inclusión de los migrantes. Un actor a menudo pasado por alto en la recepción e integración de los migrantes son las organizaciones no gubernamentales (ONG), que, especialmente en ausencia de una respuesta integral por parte del Estado, han asumido papeles cruciales de apoyo para los migrantes. Este estudio explorará las acciones y relaciones de la Corporación La Matriz, una ONG ubicada en el distrito …

Analyzing Human - Nonhuman Primate Conflict Mitigation Techniques In Mto Wa Mbu, Northern Tanzania, Lily Adams

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Human – non-human primate conflict is particularly crucial due to primates’ high capacity to live among human populations. The study to analyze Human - Nonhuman Primate Conflict Mitigation Techniques, was carried in November 2023 at Mto wa Mbu, Northern Tanzania. To analyze techniques currently being used to mitigate human – non-human primate conflict, this study collected data through semi-structured interviews. Over 87% (n=35) of respondents used multiple mitigation techniques simultaneously. 80% of respondents (n=32) reported using projectiles to ward off foraging primates, 75% of respondents (n=30) reported using loud noises (made either by the voice/body or by manipulating noisemakers), 67.5% …

Entre La Exclusión Y La Empatía: Conocimientos Y Sentimientos De La Juventud Judía De Buenos Aires Sobre La Memoria Colectiva De “La Comunidad Judía” En La Última Dictadura Argentina (1976-1983) / Between Exclusion And Empathy: Knowledge And Sentiments Of Jewish Youth In Buenos Aires About The Collective Memory Of The “The Jewish Community” During The Argentine Dictatorship (1976-1983), Rachel Colson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

La última dictadura cívico-militar en Argentina es tanto parte del pasado como del futuro. El “Proceso de Reorganización Nacional” instalado por las Fuerzas Armadas trajo opresión política y violencia extrema hacia la gente en contra del régimen. Desde su fin, la sociedad ha enfrentado el problema de cómo recordar esta época. La memoria forma parte importante de la identidad social argentina, pero es complicada debido a la experiencia de determinados grupos durante la dictadura. En estos años, los judíos sufrieron una victimización especial dentro de los campos clandestinos de detención—los sitios de tortura y desaparición—de las Fuerzas Armadas. Mientras algunos …

“Comrade Woman” In 21st-Century Serbia: (Dis)Continuities Of Yugoslav Feminism In Post-Yugoslav, Post-War Serbian Feminism, Heyu Yuan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Forty-five years have passed since 1978, when the first feminist conference in the Eastern Bloc – Drug-ca žena – žensko pitanje: novi pristup? (Comrade Woman – The Woman’s Question: A New Approach?) – took place in Belgrade in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). After the violent breakup of the SFRY, what, if anything, is left of the legacies of Yugoslav feminism in today’s Serbia? To answer this question, this research examines the Serbian feminist scenes across time through literature and five semi-structured interviews. It concludes that although the Serbian feminist movement has become significantly different from the Yugoslav …

La Significancia De La Instalación De Oficinas De Género Para Estudiantes Universitarias Lgbtq+ En Chile, Lori Hashasian

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This investigation explores the significance that offices of gender have for queer university students in Chile. It is based on the historical Mayo Feminista protests and the resulting passage of Ley 21.369, which aims to regulate sexual assault, gender violence, and gender discrimination in higher education. This law mandates Chilean universities to have offices of gender specifically dedicated to meeting these goals. This study draws on interviews to learn from the lived experiences of queer university students and directors of the offices of gender. It concentrates on two universities in Valparaíso, Chile: la Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María and la …

Black Morocco On The Margins: A Societal Manifestation Of Xenophobia, Anti-Blackness In Islam, And The Lasting Impact Of Colonialism, Sydney Coleman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The intention of this study is to investigate what factors contribute to the marginalization of and discrimination against black sub-Saharan migrants in Morocco. This study includes an examination of the history of Moroccan slavery, the formation of racial and religious dichotomies in the Maghreb, historical and modern-day perceptions of sub-Saharan migrants, and the political and social factors that have influenced changes in migration policy and migration management approaches. The study goes on to analyze the ways in which these components impact how sub-Saharan migrants are contemporarily viewed and actively contribute to the isolation and prejudice experienced by black African migrants …

Representations And Realities: Misali Island's Biodiversity In Hybrid Narratives, Justin Ross Whitney

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are complex organisms that ebb and flow between strict and unyielding conservation doctrines often at the cost of community engagement. Misali Island is different. Conceived and advocated for by community members, this organism has navigated a tumultuous tenure of environmental degradation, periods of high and low funding, and a looming tourism presence. On top of these challenges has been a growing fishing community attempting to share in the bounty of this shockingly biodiverse setting. This study sorts through the grey space of Misali Island by applying a hybrid narrative that interfaces the marine context of the …

Always Sunny In Zanzibar: Exploring Solar Power On The Island, Quinn Brannan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As Zanzibar continues along its developmental path, the island’s energy infrastructure takes on a central role in future plans for growth. Critically, as the population grows and tourist presence is predicted to increase, the island is presented with the combined problem of supplying a greater volume of energy, while also providing a more reliable source to its existing populace. In this study, I will examine existing solar energy systems for capacity, accessibility, and reliability, as well as evaluate their efficacy in providing a functional source of power, both now and in the future. I conduct interviews with assorted stakeholders in …

Lha, Lu, And Shipda: Religious Landscape In A Conservation Area, Luke Stumpfl

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Living in a political, cultural, and geographic border region between Nepal and Tibet (People’s Republic of China), the families of Tsum Valley face many demands from their sociopolitical, religious, and economic climate. Practicing Tibetan Buddhism, the people uphold a set of rules implemented by the community with leadership from Serap Dorje Drukpa Rinpoche over 100 years ago that prohibits the intentional murder of all animals. Hailed by leaders and scholars as a haven of biodiversity conservation due to this customary-turned- municipal law, Tsum Valley also exists within Manaslu Conservation Area governed by an entity of the federal government of Nepal …

Universal Health Coverage: A Basis For Pandemic Preparedness?, Merline Feero

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Amid extensive research and reporting on the effects of COVID-19 on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) progress, this study explores an often neglected topic: the potential of UHC to contribute to the foundations of pandemic preparedness. Herein, quantitative analysis reveals that countries with higher UHC coverage tend to exhibit greater pandemic preparedness (as determined by the UHC Service Coverage Index and the Global Health Security Index). Complementary qualitative analysis is used to further illustrate and explain the correlation between UHC and pandemic preparedness using four case study countries, integrating literature reviews and relevant expert interviews. Through these methods, a clear tie …

Hidden Hurdles: Evaluating Informal Barriers To Primary Healthcare Access Among Undocumented Migrants In Switzerland, Arantxa Bonifaz Rosas

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Undocumented migrants face heightened difficulties in accessing healthcare due to a combination of legal, financial, and social challenges. Informal barriers to accessing healthcare further exacerbate poor health outcomes among undocumented migrants. In Switzerland, where undocumented migrants have the right to health insurance, barriers to receiving healthcare continue to restrict their access to essential services, such as primary healthcare (PHC). Employing a meta-analysis approach, this qualitative study aimed to broaden existing research on informal barriers hindering access to PHC for undocumented migrants, with a particular focus on the Swiss context. The identified informal barriers centered around health insurance, fear of deportation, …

Islamophobia In India And Its Impact On India’S Foreign Relations, Dylan Morgan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

India has a vast history of Islam throughout the subcontinent, beginning over a millennia ago. Throughout this time, developments such as Muslim rule over Hindus, British colonization, the partition to create Pakistan and eventually Bangladesh, as well as the rise of Hindu nationalism throughout India from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have created a dangerous status quo for Muslims in India. Communal, state-sanctioned, violence against Muslims, their businesses, symbols of the religion, and any sort of public display is increasingly common. The impact on India’s international standing, especially with predominantly Muslim countries such as Arabian Gulf countries, Iran, Malaysia, and …

‘Unbelievable’: Perspectives On The Digital World In Manang, Alex Halaby

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Manang lies one hundred miles northwest of Kathmandu in a valley called Nyeshang. Until a major road was constructed in 2014, the challenge of importing goods in and out of the town slowed the development of digital infrastructures supporting internet use. Consequently, the widespread use of the internet and digital communication is a relatively new phenomenon. Already, its effects are visible in classrooms, health clinics, hotels, and social structures. This paper investigates how Manangis learn about themselves, each other, and the world outside the valley in this new digital space. Emphasis is not placed on quantifications, but rather on the …

Las Facultades Especiales De Los Parques Públicos: Investigar Los Efectos Reconstituyentes De La Plaza Almirante Brown En Los Visitantes, Aidan Michelow

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

En las últimas décadas, los psicólogos ambientales y expertos en la salud pública alrededor del mundo han realizado una cantidad creciente de estudios sobre los impactos de la salud mental de los espacios verdes urbanos en los visitantes. Este proyecto de investigación, que recogió datos de los participantes de la Plaza Almirante Brown en Río Grande, Argentina, es un estudio exploratorio que tiene el objetivo de investigar los efectos reconstituyentes de la Plaza en los visitantes. Las preguntas centrales son ¿Tiene la Plaza Almirante Brown efectos reconstituyentes en sus visitantes? En caso afirmativo, ¿qué aspectos del parque son reconstituyentes y …

Litio En Una Encrucijada: Voces Locales Sobre La Reforma Constitucional Del Gobernador Morales Y Su Impacto En El Futuro De La Minería En Jujuy / Lithium At A Crossroads: Local Voices On Governor Morales’ Constitutional Reform And Its Impact On The Future Of Mining In Jujuy, Maxwell Bassin

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

En junio de 2023, el gobernador Morales de Jujuy aprobó un cambio en la constitución provincial rápidamente, sin consultar con las comunidades indígenas. Esta reforma prohíbe cortes de rutas, refuerza los derechos de propiedad privada y criminaliza muchas formas de protesta pública. Ahora, hay mucha crítica hacia la reforma, especialmente por parte de las comunidades indígenas y grupos ambientales que tienen miedo de que, sin la posibilidad de protestar, la minería del litio se expandirá en la provincia. Esta minería es peligrosa para las comunidades indígenas porque quiere minar en su tierra y requiere mucha agua aunque el clima de …

La Curp No Sirve Para Nada: How The Curp And Other Temporary Documentation Fail To Protect The Human Rights Of Migrants In Transit Through Mexico, Harper Hoover

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This work concerns the use of temporary documentation by migrants in transit through Mexico, specifically an identification known as the Clave Única de Registro de Población (CURP.) In recent years, migrants have employed a strategy entailing applying for asylum in Mexico solely to obtain a temporary CURP, falsely believed to provide safe transit through Mexico. Past research on similar temporary documentation concludes that issuing permission to travel through the country is typically ineffective at providing safety from corruption and crime. Documentation also fails at providing reliable access to human rights guaranteed to all by the Mexican Constitution and Immigration Law …

Unveiling The Impact: Mexico's Decree On Genetically Modified Corn And Its Ramifications On Food Security, Lauren Mcshea

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research delves into the repercussions of Mexico's presidential decree in late 2020, which imposed a ban on the human consumption of genetically modified (GM) corn by January 2024. In a trade dispute under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the decree has sparked tensions between Mexico and the United States, particularly concerning the disruption of GM corn exports. Beyond trade dynamics, the study aims to address the broader impact on Mexico's food security landscape, exploring the intricate connections between the ban and various factors, including agricultural practices, economic implications, and shifts in the corn market dynamics. This research seeks to …