Digital Commons Network^™

Women In Transition: Fighting Mentalities And Ensuring Political Participation In Post-Revolutionary Tunisia, Hayley Schultz

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Although democracies look different across the world, they all share a few things in common. One of the biggest factors which contributes to a strong democracy is an active and engaged civil society. Without people upholding the government and keeping them accountable for their actions, government officials feel they can do as they wish. Tunisia has recently undergone a democratic transition and is working on forming a stable democracy. Since the fall of the Ben Ali regime, civil society organizations have sprung up all over the country. These organizations are working to safeguard the principles of the new constitution and …

An Expanding Financial Sector: Continuity And Change Among Dhikur Groups In Lower Mustang, Anna Misenti

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Thakali people of lower Mustang have a long history of economic success fostered through community systems that function due to cooperation, but are also characterized by competition. One of these traditional systems is dhikur , a system of rotating credit composed of approximately twenty members. This study examines the roles of traditional savings and credit institutions within communities in lower Mustang in the context of the emergence of private financial institutions in Jomsom over the last ten years. My research displayed the strength of these community based organizations in the face of a private financial sector where organizational requirements …

La Relación Entre El Desamparo Y La Salud: El Caso Del Campamento Japón En Santiago, Chile, Chaveli Concepción

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

En esta investigación se busca exponer más a fondo como la desigualdad social afecta la salud de aquellos que han sido menos favorecidos. En esta ocasión se analizó el caso de los habitantes del Campamento Japón, en la comuna de Maipú, de Santiago, Chile, con el objetivo de entender el fenómeno de la desigualdad social y cómo esta afecta la salud de las personas que la sufren. La metodología de este estudio cualitativo se constituyó de investigación bibliográfica previa, y posteriormente visitas y trabajos voluntarios al Campamento Japón para hacer observaciones y entrevistas a los activistas del campamento, a los …

La Bicicultura De Cochabamba: ¿La Bici Es De Todos?, Lucy Bergwall

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Este proyecto investiga la cultura del ciclismo en la ciudad de Cochabamba. He elegido esta ciudad porque tiene una historia de ser una ciudad de ciclismo urbano pero ha perdido esta característica en las últimas décadas con el incremento de los autos en las calles. Sin embargo, hace unos años que ha empezado a crecer otra vez el ciclismo, en las formas de deporte y de transporte. Esta investigación se enfoca en las preguntas: ¿es la bici de todos? ¿Quiénes son los usuarios de bicis en Cochabamba y quiénes están excluidos o no representados en los grupos de ciclismo? Gracias …

Jordanian Special Needs Children’S Access To Services: Parental Perspective, Selena Rincon

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The purpose of this study was to investigate the point of view of parents of special needs children in regards to their access to financial, medical, and educational services in Jordan. The researcher was interested in the question: Do parents of special needs children believe that the government offers adequate educational, financial, and medical services for their special needs children? This study is significant because special needs children are an important part of Jordanian society and must receive proper services in order to develop their abilities as much as possible and become active members of society. Also, it is important …

Facilitators Of Empowerment Lead In Sustainable Rural Development: A Case Study Of Thanda, Emma Milford

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In a world searching for more innovative models of development, it is important to highlight successful programs that offer insight into effective, impactful interventions. In this study, I investigate Thanda as a case study for rural sustainable development where investment in individual empowerment results in community empowerment. Thanda was founded in 2008 with the original intent of addressing the orphan crisis due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in rural communities near Hibberdene, South Africa. Since then, Thanda has implemented afterschool education programs, feeding programs, agricultural development programs, early childhood development programs, and a 100% green community center. Their curriculum emphasizes critical …

Seeds Of Peace: Visible Cooperation Between Jews And Muslims In Morocco, Namratha Somayajula

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

A carrefour in various contexts, Morocco stands in a unique position between the Arab world and Israel for several reasons. The country is unique due to the historical presence of Judaism in the region that, over the years, became a Muslim-majority Islamic kingdom. The members of Morocco’s Muslim and Jewish communities coexisted for centuries, albeit with minor hurdles, as did the Muslims and Jews of Palestine. However, political events around the world in the twentieth century led to the rapid departure of Jews from their Moroccan homeland. Today, with so few remaining in Morocco, “Jew” often becomes synonymous with “Israel,” …

Human Rights At The Border: European-Union—Moroccan Relations In The Wake Of The 2013 Migratory Policy, Anashua Dutta

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Morocco’s border with the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla has brought the country into direct relations with the European Union (EU) on the issues of border control and migration. In response to the growing human rights violations towards migrants and refugees enumerated in the Conseil Nationale des Droits de l’Homme’s (CNDH) 2013 report, King Muhammad VI passed a migratory policy that emphasized preservation of human rights within Morocco’s borders. This study examines the effects of Morocco’s relationship with the EU on the implementation of the human-rights aspects of Morocco’s 2013 migratory policy. Using the semi-structured interview approach, I will …

From Private To Public Women’S Cooperatives And The Construction Of A Public Sphere, Cecilia Garza

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This independent study project will explore how participation in the economy benefits women in more ways than just economically. Using the example of five cooperatives functioning in the Moroccan Rif, this paper will investigate how access to the economy not only provides women with supplemental income but also allows them to leave the home and build networks within their communities. These examples will illustrate how illiterate, rural women, who would usually be seen as powerless in the public eye, are taking advantage of the trainings, income and communities they gain from their participation in cooperatives to claim independence and prove …

The Right Of Return: International Representation Of Palestinian Refugee Rights, Ariella Hohl

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study focuses on Palestinian identity in refugee camps and their international representation of rights by the PLO. The goal of this research is to understand how the meaning of the Right of Return has developed through generations of Palestinian refugees residing in camps, in contrast with the international community discourse presented by the PLO on this topic.

After almost two decades since the PLO’s leadership renewal, a gap is visible between Palestinian political representation and the sentiments of Palestinians on the ground. There are growing perceptions dissatisfaction with the current leadership, especially from the perspective of refugees. More often …

Nutrition And Education In An Urbanizing Nation, Molly Pritz

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Child malnutrition is a growing public health issue in Nepal, particularly in urban areas. Not eating enough, or not eating enough of healthy foods, can have life-long implications on development and cognitive ability. Because of its relevance to development within the country, many donor organizations and non-governmental organizations are working to promote child nutrition education programs. The purpose of this research is to investigate the implementation and structure of urban child nutrition educational programs involving treatment and prevention in Kathmandu, Nepal. Through qualitative interviews and field observations with three primary organizations, this research analyzes the patterns and disconnects between various …

Changes In Luoshui: How The Outside World Affects Luoshui Village And The Mosuo Culture, Lucy Woychuk-Mlinac

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Is tourism really the biggest harm to Mosuo culture? Mosuo people are often the center of studies about how tourism affects the traditions and cultures of minority groups, but there is little focus on the other influences that change Mosuo culture. This study focuses on the lives of the Mosuo in Luoshui village, and how their everyday lives are influenced by the world outside of the village. Without knowing the causes of changes in the Mosuo village, there is little hope for fixing the situation and keeping dying traditions alive. Looking into their religion, education, and the holiday shazhu, …

Post-Earthquake Relief Efforts: A Case Study In Foreign Aid And Development, Ella Israeli

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

On April 25th, 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, followed by a 7.3 magnitude aftershock on May 12nd, 2015. Immediate humanitarian aid was needed and promptly received. Now, seven months later, long-term relief efforts are beginning. The major players in both post-earthquake relief efforts and foreign aid are foreign governments, large organizations, and small organizations. In the immediate aftermath, relief workers supplied victims with temporary shelter, food, and healthcare. Now, in the long-term, the two major challenges faced are resettlement and reconstruction. This is true especially because of new problems created by the recent blockade. Victims still are need …

Tracing The Human Healthcare Roots Of Antibiotic Resistance In India: Causes, Challenges, And Promising Solutions, Kelsey Matteson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The rapid development of biological defense mechanisms by bacteria, or antibiotic resistance, is a dangerously progressing public health concern worldwide. The spread of antibiotic resistant pathogens are not only a threat to the security of healthcare facilities and the stability of modern medicine across the globe, but this phenomenon also creates a particular burden on countries with a high prevalence of infectious disease such as India. This study attempts to explore India’s unique human healthcare causes of the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance, comprehend the obstacles that have created roadblocks to change, and outline possible solutions to overcome these …

Review Or Rhetoric? An Analysis Of The United Nations Human Rights Council’S Universal Periodic Review, Sameer Rana

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Fifty, thirty, or even just twenty years ago, would one ever imagine a powerful country like the U.S., China, or Russia preparing a national report on the human rights situation in their country, then presenting it in front of a UN political body, engaging in dialogue, answering questions, and responding to recommendations from fellow Member States? This became a reality in 2006 when the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) replaced the problematic UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) and established a new and unprecedented mechanism known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Under this instrument, the human rights records and …

El Parto Humanizado: Perspectivas De Profesionales En Las Maternidades Públicas De Buenos Aires, Lara Kaplan Westbrook

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Con el reconocimiento de la tecnologización y medicalización del embarazo y parto en años recientes, el término violencia obstétrica y la ley del parto humanizado han surgido en Argentina. Aunque la ley define cómo los hospitales deben actuar para garantizar un parto donde la mujer sea la protagonista, su implementación depende de muchos factores, incluyendo la interpretación y opinión del profesional. Además, las mujeres que viven en situaciones de pobreza son quienes más frecuentemente usan los servicios de salud públicos y por ello suelen estar más expuestas a la naturalización de la violencia en la atención de la salud y …

Jóvenes En Movimiento: Los Papeles De La Danza Folklórica Y Contemporánea En Las Vidas De Los Jóvenes Cochabambinos, Maya Salas

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Este proyecto es una comparación y contraste de los papeles y las influencias de la danza folklórica y la danza contemporánea en las vidas de los jóvenes cochabambinos. Durante este proyecto, yo trabajé muy de cerca con el Instituto Laredo—un colegio fiscal en Cochabamba que quiere integrar las enseñanzas de las artes en la educación de los jóvenes. Mi pregunta de investigación es, ¿Cuáles son las diferencias en los valores que se transmiten y se aprenden con la danza folklórica y contemporánea y cómo estos valores impactan el crecimiento y el desarrollo de los jóvenes? Para este proyecto, yo entrevisté …

Práctica Habitual De Los Médicos Del Hospital De Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Cuidad Autonomía De Buenos Aires, Argentina, En El Tratamiento De La Otitis Media Aguda En Niños. Enfoque En El Uso De Antibióticos. /The Usual Practice Of Acute Otitis Media In Children By The Hospital De Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez In The City Of Buenos Aires With A Focus On The Use Of Antibiotics As Treatment, Kali Marie Burkhardt

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The study was developed during the month of November 2015 in the city of Buenos Aires. The investigation was accomplished through the use of interviews with a variety of professionals and surveys with pediatric residents in the Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez. The surveys asked about how the pediatric residents diagnosed acute otitis media, what was their usual practice with acute otitis media, which medications they used, and if there were any factors that could influence their decision to prescribe antibiotics. The interviews were semi-structured and oriented to discover how those who were interviewed managed acute otitis media, if …

La Búsqueda De Una Agenda En Común: Una Mirada Feminista A Las Organizaciones Lgbti En Nicaragua, Rachel Crane

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In the global context, we are amidst a rapidly changing rights landscape for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) as more and more governments begin to recognize same-gender partnerships. This gain in LGBT rights worldwide is in no small part to the political organizing and lobbying done by LGBT-rights organizations. Nicaragua’s history with gaining LGBT rights is relatively new, as the government did not repeal the anti-sodomy law here until 2008, thus stagnating the fight for acceptance in the country. As it stands, Nicaragua has a few legal protections for LGBT people, but they continue to …

Characteristics Of Geoffroy’S Tamarin (Saguinus Geoffroyi) Population, Demographics, And Territory Sizes In Urban Park Habitat (Parque Natural Metropolitano, Panama City, Panama), Caitlin Mcnaughton

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Metropolitan parks are an important refuge for wildlife in developed areas. In the tropics, land conversion threatens rainforest habitat that holds some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of Geoffroy’s tamarin (Saguinus geoffroyi) population, demographics, and territory size in a highly urbanized forest habitat (Parque Natural Metropolitano (PNM), Panama City, Republic of Panamá). Studies of animal response to modified habitats are important as development continues worldwide. S. geoffroyi is an ideal species to study for this purpose due to the species’ tolerance to habitat disturbance. This particular park is …

El Grano Milagroso Y Su Lado Oscuro: Un Estudio Sobre La Demanda De La Quinua Y Sus Efectos En Los Sistemas De Producción De La Comunidad De Cabana, Jacob Frankel

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Esto es un estudio sobre los sistemas agrícolas de producción en la comunidad campesina de Cabana en el departamento de Puno. Los agricultores en el Altiplano de Puno tradicionalmente producen la quinua y otros cultivos andinos de una manera extensiva. Pero, en el mundo se está realizando un “boom de quinua” ahora. Lo que significa alta demanda, mayor precio que beneficia a los campesinos andinos. La comercialización de la quinua en Cabana ha cambiado su producción a ser más intensivo, y los usos ancestrales de la tierra están disminuyendo. Encontré una tendencia de menos descanso del suelo, más mecanización y …

An Avian Biological Gradient Across Tropical Dry Lowland Local Habitats At Playa Venao, Los Santos Province, Panama, Abigail Thomas

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

There are a myriad of forest types within Panama, varying by elevation, precipitation and other abiotic factors, which hosts a wide variety of native and migratory species in uniquely-structured avian communities. Panama has been well assessed for presence and distribution of its 987 collective avian species (Angehr, 2014). However most studies in Panama have been broad in scope, overlooking the highly specified habitats that are uniquely structured to host a certain range of avifauna communities. The distinctions in community structure of avifauna along a coastal to inland gradient were assessed among three specialized habitats: the Central Pacific coast, partially deforested …

Exploring Gender-Based Violence Management In Nairobi, Kirsten Dimovitz

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Awareness about the prevalence of gender based violence is on the rise around the world. Citizens, governments and international organizations are beginning to see the vast impacts this issue has not only on the afflicted survivors but also on their families, friends and communities. However, less research is often done on a city or community level which leaves wide gaps in varying social, cultural, economic, and situational indicators. This also leads to many broad statements about the reasons why gender-based violence is so high in a particular areas. In developing countries the code word is often, poverty. This study takes …

The Power Of The We: An Autoethnographic Exploration Of Attitudes Towards Exercise In A Cato Manor Workout Group, Serena Bernthal-Jones

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study explored attitudes towards exercise within a workout group in Cato Manor, Durban. Taking an autoethnographic approach, I have interwoven narratives of group members with my own experiences, both as a participant in the workout group and as a long-distance runner. Using focus groups, in-depth one-on-one interviews, and direct observations, as well as running as a method of introspection, I aimed to examine both individual and collective perceptions of and motivations for exercise. All but one of the workout group members I spoke with were women, reflecting the makeup of the group while I was there. My findings indicate …

A Study On The Multidimensional Effects Of Animal Rights And Tourism In Bandia Reserve, Lauren Watwood

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The guiding theme of this research was to gain an insiders perspective on animal welfare with Bandia Reserve and learn how the tourism generated by the reserve affected[US1] [LW2] the community. I sought to answer these questions by living in[US3] Mbour within close proximity to the guides to view their day-to-day activities, spending time in participant observation at the reserve, conducting interviews within Bandia and in the surrounding communities. This research is important to address the guiding motivation behind Bandia Reserve. It sheds light on how tourism affects[US4] not only La Petite Cote, but all of Senegal. …

Fair Trade Or Fake Trade? Specialty Coffee Certifications And Development In Uganda, Eliza Cummings

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This project examined the relationship between specialty coffee certifications and development. The focus was exploring the local and national implications Fairtrade coffee certifications have in Uganda. Coffee is a critical commodity, accounting for 15 percent of Uganda’s foreign exchange and engaging over one million households in production. Currently, specialty certified coffees including Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and 4C make up only four percent of total production. However, under Uganda’s 2013 National Coffee Policy, there is a target to expand specialty production to 24 percent. It is therefore imperative to understand how these specialty certifications affect primary producers participating as well as …

Comparative Study Of Terrestrial Arthropod Diversity In Primary And Re-Planted Pine Forest In A Community Forest At Andasibe, Madagascar, Tyler George, Mira Kelly-Fair, Andrea Wade

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study is a comparison of tree and terrestrial arthropod diversity along native andre-planted pine transects.Transects were laid in a primary and re-planted pine forest in Andasibe Community Forest Park. Data was collected over six days, taking measurements of trees, inspecting and collecting specimens from pitfall traps once a day. Terrestrial arthropods were identified to morphospecies and measures of diversity were calculated. To understand the health of the trees, information was collected that included trees diameter at breast height, canopy cover and soil cover. Terrestrial arthropod communities and diversity were found to be significantly different in the native and replanted …

An Analysis Of Biodiversity, Sustainability, And Ecotourism In The Vo.I.M.Ma Community Managed Forest, Andasibe, Madagascar, Catherine Knowlton, Charlotte Walton

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The concept of eco-tourism as a culturally sensitive, ecologically beneficial alternative to traditional vacations is a fairly new idea. While on the surface it seems positive for everyone involved, there are complexities in the relationships between all parties. This study explores the ties between the community forest, the tourists, and biodiversity (specifically endemic lemur populations) in the VO.I.M.MA Community Managed Forest. This study found that the community forest model is sustainable, based on the criteria of protecting biodiversity and satisfying customers. To truly promote a sustainable business model in the future (ecologically as well as economically), the center could improve …

An Investigation Of The Integration Of Education And Mental Health Treatment Into The Care Of Diabetes In Syrian Refugee Women, Miller Richmond

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Due to the fact that Syrian refugees’ situation subjects them to unusual, acute stresses, health professionals must proactively screen them for mental disorders. Many studies show that the correlation between diabetes and mental illness is very strong, thus treatment of diabetic refugees should consider the mental health of the patient in order to ensure successful management of the disease. Additionally, health education should be emphasized as both a route to successful disease management and a route to overall health literacy that can empower the refugee to make important and efficient decisions about accessing health services. This study examined the integration …

Community Owned Renewable Energy In North Coast Nsw Social Housing, Kelly Leatherman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study assesses the feasibility of implementing community owned renewable energy (CORE) technology in social housing units in North Coast NSW. I completed this study by conducting interviews with three renewable energy policy experts to ascertain the current state of renewable energy and CORE in NSW. Second, I conducted four interviews with separate social housing unit employees/residents to understand their interpretation of current barriers to implementing renewable energy in the social housing and if any of the units currently have any renewable energy technology or energy efficiency programs in place. After finishing this assessment, I did a comparative analysis with …