Advocating for Reproductive Justice and Health on Campus As a student and passionate advocate for reproductive justice, I have dedicated my time and energy to addressing the pressing issue of access to sexual and reproductive health services within my college community. Through my work with Advocates for Youth, I am actively involved in promoting education, awareness, and systemic change on campus to ensure that every student regardless of background or identity can access the resources and protections they deserve. One of the most critical aspects of this work is improving access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information. In many college environments, conversations about these topics are limited or stigmatized, leaving students without the knowledge they need to make informed decisions. Through workshops, peer education, and social media campaigns, I help bridge that gap by making accurate, inclusive, and empowering information readily available. This includes everything from contraception, STI prevention, emergency contraception education to navigating consent and understanding healthy relationships. Another major focus of my advocacy is preventing sexual assault and raising awareness about Title IX (a federal law that protects students from sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment and assault). Many students are unaware of what Title IX entails or how to seek help if they experience misconduct. I collaborate with my peers to host events, develop educational content, and create a supportive dialogue around these issues. I also work to de-stigmatize the reporting process and ensure students understand the measures of protection available to them, such as no-contact orders and academic accommodations. Because my college outsources its health services, we face unique challenges in ensuring that students' needs are fully met. To address this, I engage in regular meetings with university deans and our on-campus nurse to advocate for improved reproductive and sexual health services. This includes pushing for better access to emergency contraception, routine gynecological care, and inclusive sexual health education that acknowledges the needs of LGBTQ+ students. Our campus contraception campaigns, which I help lead, aim to reduce stigma and ensure students have easy and affordable access to the tools they need to protect their health. This work is deeply personal and urgent. As someone who believes in the power of knowledge, autonomy, and community, I am committed to continuing this advocacy, not only to improve conditions on my campus but also to be part of a broader movement for reproductive justice. It’s not just about services and policies; it’s about dignity, equity, and the right of every individual to make decisions about their own body and future.

My name is Esther, and I am an international student from El Salvador who loves to sing and learn about the world and justice. Growing up, I was influenced by my parents and the work of my church before and after the war to help out communities and individuals. I would have never called it service but rather human solidarity. My parents faced struggles finding jobs and a home before I was born, but they intrinsically taught me a strong sense of perseverance and dedication to helping others. They both found meaningful jobs with organizations that aligned with these values: my father with Habitat for Humanity and my mother with our church, working on community development projects. From a young age, I accompanied my parents on some of their work trips, helping out with simple tasks and gradually taking on more responsibilities. These experiences shaped my understanding of the world. Whether it was playing with volunteers and talking to them as a child, or carrying out construction tasks, carpentry, plumbing, teaching summer school, and assisting with translations as a teenager, I learned the importance of contributing to my community and making a positive impact. Often, people think of service or volunteering as a "good action" that people of goodwill do in exchange for nothing: altruism. However, the reality is far from the truth. Often, volunteers and participants learn and gain so much cultural knowledge, helpful life and manual skills, professional experience, as well as emotional intelligence. The more humble we are and eager to learn, the more we gain. That is what drives us to be involved in tasks that may not pay out in a traditional way. At 15, I discovered the United World College (UWC) and was captivated by its mission to use education as a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. This mission stays with me to this day. I successfully applied for a scholarship to study the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma at UWC in Singapore, and while I was there, I was involved in a program for children with hearing loss and visual impairments. I learned that even for games, it is necessary that we are aware of the children's impairments and the motor skill areas they need to develop more. If the games are not appropriate for them, it might harm their senses and delay appropriate motor skill development. You should always start by listening to them and those who have more experience in the field to build a base for your plan of action. My last experience with service is an ongoing one. I am helping a new non-profit organization located in Seattle, Washington, called Peace and Dignity Foundation with translations, case management, and administrative work. This organization aims to help refugees and immigrants with housing, basic needs, and legal assistance. They registered last year and are fairly new, which has allowed me to immerse myself in the complicated immigration protection systems. Legal processes are different for every migrant, living conditions can be unpredictable and harsh, and the work that non-profits do is essential to bring some relief to those families and unaccompanied children. I am determined to pursue a career that combines my academic interests with my passion for human solidarity as a Bachelor of International Relations. I aim to work with international organizations that address global challenges such as food insecurity, education, and sustainable development. I believe that by leveraging my education and experiences, I can make meaningful contributions to creating a more equitable and sustainable world. Thank you for considering my application.

As an international student from El Salvador, my journey into community service began with my involvement in various initiatives through my church back home. I actively participated in projects focused on building houses and communal buildings for members of rural communities, as well as facilitating summer school classes and activities for the youth in our community. Initially, I didn't perceive these activities as service, as they were communal efforts within the church. However, they laid the foundation for my passion for community engagement. My involvement extended beyond my home country when I participated in ServeUp 2022, where I contributed to the repair and rebuilding of houses in New Orleans following the devastation caused by hurricanes and natural disasters. Most recently, I had the privilege of receiving a Projects for Peace award of 2023, which enabled me to initiate a project focusing on soil conservation and organic agriculture in El Salvador. This award has been instrumental in shaping my dedication to sustainable development and empowering communities through impactful projects. was thrilled to be awarded a grant to spearhead a project focusing on soil conservation and organic agriculture. This opportunity allowed me to dive into an investigation of organic producers in El Salvador, where I conducted thorough research to understand their practices and challenges. I Interviewed many of them, and all had mostly the same challenges which were few or no opportunities for funding. Alongside this research, I was responsible for preparing and organizing workshops tailored for female farmers, aiming to empower them with knowledge and techniques for sustainable farming practices and vermiculture. Additionally, I collaborated with local schools to develop engaging workshops for middle and high school students, aiming to foster awareness and interest in organic agriculture, soil, water and environmental conservation. This experience not only enriched my understanding of soil conservation and organic farming but also allowed me to make a tangible impact but I realised that sharing knowledge and empowering individuals within the community is only one part of the learning process of these projects. Most times the person in charge of the project learns more from the participants. Finally, my most recent service experience was in El Salvador helping to install a rainfall catchment system in two rural communities. I helped with the instalment while translating for a group of Canadian volunteers. We collaborated with the people of the communities to make the process faster and less exhausting.