Even though NYU Accra and NYU Sydney are nearly 10,000 miles apart, NYU students at both sites often find themselves having similar experiences as they create opportunities to contribute to their new communities, go beyond the typical learning experience, and immerse themselves in the local culture. 

For recent graduates Jesiah Matthews, College of Arts and Science Class of 2023, and Ericka Kamanou-Tenta, College of Arts and Science Class of 2023, NYU Accra attracted their attention early in the process of deciding to study away. For Jesiah, who majored in Sociology, Ghana was an opportunity to “connect with my heritage.” Ericka, who majored in Global Public Health and Anthropology, was raised in Cameroon. “I was excited to step into my purpose,” she reflects. They both minored in Social Entrepreneurship.

Once in Accra, Jesiah and Ericka volunteered at the nonprofit B.A.S.I.C.S International and connected through their common passion for the city, service, and entrepreneurship. Together, they decided to empower local high school students in the Chorkor community, “to see themselves as change-makers,” the duo explains. As such, they worked with the young adults to identify regional problems, then built workable business models for each of them. “Being in Accra provided an invaluable immersive environment that allowed us to gain deeper insights into the local entrepreneurial ecosystem,” they share. “This on-the-ground experience not only enriched the project by offering a nuanced perspective but also facilitated a more empathic and culturally sensitive approach.”

In the end, Jesiah and Ericka partnered with various NYU staff to transition from interns to founders, starting a new venture: IVG (Identify, Validate, Grow) Ghana. They aim to empower young African adults through entrepreneurship, while also bridging financial independence, social development, business interests, and community needs. “The overall experience was transformative,” they say. “We’ve had the opportunity to have a sense of purpose through giving back to a small group of young adults. And we’ve gotten a taste of what happens when passion, purpose, and impact come together. It benefits everyone.”

Similarly, when Michaela Greenlee, a Global Public Health and Sociology major, studied away, she also took her strengths in service to provide a positive impact in Sydney, Australia. Having previously served as an NYU service ambassador, leading service events and promoting social justice, Michaela wanted to develop a service project that reflected Australia’s unique social justice issues–most notably, environmental sustainability. 

“It can be very rewarding to do service abroad,” she says. “You learn about a different culture’s social justice issues and understand their means of combating them.”

Australia produces 2.5 million tons of plastic waste each year, so Michaela, who’s also minoring in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies, partnered with the nonprofit Clean Up Australia to host a daylong cleanup event for NYU students. The organization sent her all the necessary materials, and she marketed the event and recruited volunteers. “My goal was to raise awareness of Clean Up Australia and their impact on the environment, particularly their work with eliminating plastics,” she explains.

The event was a success, leading to clean streets in the local neighborhood and new skills for Michaela. “The overall experience of planning and executing this project in a different global location was eye-opening because I had the opportunity to collaborate with one of Australia’s most recognized, credible, and trusted nonprofit organizations,” she shares. Going forward, she plans to take the lessons she learned back to New York City, where she’ll seek out similar nonprofits. “I want to get other students excited about giving back to the global community by learning to become advocates and collaborating with like-minded organizations.”

Written by Dana Guterman, repurposed with permission from Global Notebook