Dari Mahasiswa di Amerika Untuk Korban Gempa Yogyakarta

Mahasiswa Indonesia yang belajar di luar negeri tak membiarkan keprihatinan bangsanya berlarut-larut. Mereka melakukan usaha pengumpulan dana, untuk kemudian disalurkan bagi korban bencana gempa bumi di Yogya dan Jateng.

Karena mereka tinggal berjauhan rapat penggalangan dana pun dilakukan melalui mailing list. Seperti di indonesia-ou@yahoogroups.com, atau permias-athens@yahoogroups.com, terlihat rapat yang serius. Namun demikian rapat atau pertemuan tatap muka langsung juga dilaksanakan. Seperti di Athens, pada tanggal 27 Mei 2006 tepatnya di kediaman Prof. Elizabeth Collins, guru besar study agama di Ohio University.

Menurut koresponden hminews.com di sana, M. Chozin, proyek pengadaan dana ini diberi nama Fund Raising for Yogyakarta Earthquake. Program ini dibagi menjadi beberapa kegiatan. Pertama adalah membangun donation box di beberapa lokasi, diantaranya mulai minggu pagi tim diterjunkan ke empat gereja yang berbeda dengan 4 tim yang berbeda. Selanjutnya donation box juga akan pasang di beberapa lokasi mulai hari Selasa di Alden Library OU, OASIS, Gordy Hall, Groover, China King, Islamic Center, Beberapa Gereja, Front Room Baker Center, College Gates, dan beberapa tempat lain di sekitar Ohio University.

Kemudian acara berikutnya adalah Souvenir and Food Sales. Acara ini akan dilaksanakan hari Kamis tanggal 1 Juni 2006 mulai pukul 10.00 sampai pukul 15.00 waktu setempat. Hingga berita ini diturunkan kepastian lokasi masih dalam koordinasi.

Acara berikutnya adalah Souvenir Donation. Dalam acara ini, panitia menerima sumbangan berupa barang-barang atau souvenir apa saja yang bisa dijual pas acara hari Kamis nya.

Sumbangan akan disalurkan melalui People to People AID in Support to Nurani Dunia yang ada di Ohio University untuk selanjutnya diteruskan ke Yogya melalui perwakilan yang dianggap accountable untuk menyalurkan dana yang terkumpul. Sumbangan bisa berupa uang, cek, ataupun barang2 yang akan dijual bersama hari Kamis tanggal 1 Juni 2006.

Source: http://hminews.com/index.php?action=news.detail&id_news=350

12 OU scholars to travel globe on Fulbright grants

Ternyata Indonesia menjadi salah satu tujuan favorit para Fullbrighters

Published Wednesday, May 24, 2006.

Ohio University has broken its record in producing grantees of the government-sponsored Fulbright Program with three more students being selected for the 2006-07 academic year than last year.

The Fulbright Program, which received 29 OU applications, provides scholarships for students to explore and study in other cultures around the world, according to the Web site exchanges.state.gov/education/fulbright/. Next academic year, 12 OU students will be participating in the program compared to nine students in each of the last two years.

The number of grantees at other Ohio universities is not yet available, said Elizabeth Clodfelter, director of U.S. Fulbright Programs and liaison for international partners. OU produced the most Fulbright winners in Ohio last year.

The amount each Fulbright grantee receives varies depending on location, but the program conducts a cost-of-living survey on a biannual basis and covers students’ rent or room and board, school supplies, basic incidentals and return travel expenses, said Schuyler Allen, a media contact in the Fulbright program.

For example, Clarissa Kornell, a senior political science major who will teach English and study the use of religion in educational curriculum in Indonesia, will be aided with $1,000 every month for 10 months, $500 to $700 before and after her trip and paid travel and insurance.

Indonesia and Germany are the most popular destinations for OU Fulbright grantees, with three students going to each country next year. Other students are traveling to Ghana, Japan, Chile, Korea, the Philippines and Ecuador.

Kornell said that while OU is investing its resources in improving its image and prominence through initiatives like Vision Ohio, the Fulbright Program celebrates something at which OU already excels.

“My biggest goal is to leave feeling like I have an understanding of Indonesian culture and society and government,” she said.

Alyssa Malchi, a senior hearing, speech and language sciences major, will teach English in South Korea. She also will research non-verbal communication, which is common in America but not in Asia.

Genevieve Waller, a graduate student majoring in fine arts and art history and photography, will travel to Germany, where she has studied before, to study the history of the photogram, a camera-less photograph.

“Photography is an incredibly important aspect of our lives,” Waller said.

Being offered a Fulbright gave her a sense of validation, Waller said.“The Fulbright symbolizes that people who don’t even know you think your project has merit,” she said.

The other grantees for 2006-07 are Phillip Allman, Julie DePaulo, Layne Hanson, Tod Imperato, Troy Johnson, Eileen Kelbach, Melanie Schori, Meghan Schuck and Carly Witmer.

Source: http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/Articles/News/2006/05/24/13855/