Three UF students use grants to make a difference overseas

October 29, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Thanks to University of Florida students, a community in rural Uganda has a way to purify its drinking water, while a town in Macedonia has a new environmental awareness and recycling program.

The students traveled abroad last summer to work on these initiatives as part of 100 Projects for Peace, a program that provided $10,000 to the creators of each of 100 proposals selected from submissions by undergraduates all over the United States.

Minh Quang Vo, who graduated in May with degrees in biochemistry and Spanish literature, built a water purification station near the local water source in Rwenshaku, a small town in the southwest part of the country. The station uses the seeds of Moringa oleifera trees to filter harmful substances from the water, a method often tapped by communities that cannot afford the chemicals normally used for water purification.

Vo, a native of West Palm Beach, developed a relationship with local Ugandan leaders and established an ongoing education program to teach the community about water purification. To ensure the sustainability of the program, he devised a system by which each family in the community will grow and cultivate a small grove of Moringa trees.

Vo is in the process of applying for nongovernmental organization status in Uganda to continue his efforts to help its citizens.

Kelly Hodoval and Chris Rokicki, both environmental engineering majors and native Floridians, developed a practical and educational program to improve conservation and environmental awareness in Kratovo, Macedonia.

The students worked alongside local citizens to build and deploy six large recycling bins and clean up trash that littered a local park and river. Each bin is about 5 feet tall and can hold more than 65 pounds of recyclable plastic. The recyclable plastic will be turned in for a monetary refund from the government, which in turn will continue to fund the project.

“Within a month of distributing the locally crafted bins, Krotovians are actively filling all six once to twice a week,” Hodoval said. “Not only does this relieve stress on the landfill, but it is making their environment healthier.”

To encourage further environmental awareness, Hodoval and Rokicki wrote lesson plans that will be translated and taught at the community’s schools.

The 100 Projects for Peace were funded by philanthropist Katherine Wasserman Davis, mother of the founders of the Davis United World College Scholars Program, in honor of her 100th birthday.

The Ugandan and Macedonian proposals were two of 17 submitted by UF students.

The program allows students to realize they can use their knowledge and skills to make a difference in the world and work toward world peace, said Mary Kay Schneider Carodine, UF senior associate dean of students.

“Students learned about diverse perspectives in viewing issues and how to work across cultures,” she said. “The students’ success in their projects indicates that the University of Florida is preparing our students to be leaders in a global community.”

Funding for 100 Projects for Peace has been renewed for 2008. Information about how to submit a proposal will be available soon on the UF Dean of Students Office home page.