Before starting university, Georgia had participated in international development programs in China and Guatemala. When it came time to choose a university, Georgia wanted a school where she could augment her classroom studies with international learning. “I chose to come to UBC because of its international reputation and because it had a great program that facilitated semesters abroad,” she says. “And the fact that you can eat lunch in a forest or on a beach was awesome!”
UBC – with its Go Global program – was the natural choice for Georgia. Go Global lets students meet degree requirements through international service learning. “The idea that I could go abroad and have it be part of my degree was a major reason why I chose UBC.”
Georgia’s first overseas program took her to Swaziland where she surveyed community groups about HIV/AIDS programming. Her second international experience at UBC involved her travelling to Uganda where she worked in partnership with The Aids Support Organization (TASO). Georgia helped initiate a three-year program to enhance sustainable livelihoods among people who were HIV-positive. “This was an opportunity to develop skills while implementing a community development project, which will provide me with the capacity to reach my career goals,” says Georgia.
“My involvement with Go Global was the starting point to an amazing degree. After that first experience, I changed my program from History to International Relations because I had seen the impact of the international community on the process of development.”
This year Georgia will spend a semester in Lyon, France where she’ll be improving her French language skills. “When you are learning abroad, there is an element to the experience that can’t be found when you stay at home. It allows you to be become a stronger global citizen and take part in the increasingly interconnected world.”
