Chloé Chartier of West Bolton selected for a three-month study in remote Africa regions
RLB’S suitcase dusted off and put to use
While Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook, sets out to overhaul the company’s core mission and bring the world closer together, West Bolton’s Chloé Chartier is striving to land in a philanthropic profession and is currently planning to head to Africa with a mission to better understand her world community.
The young Mcgill student who is an avid traveller and enrolled in the International Development program has been one of 25 applicants selected to participate in the university’s African field studies program. It was no easy feat with a high volume of students wanting to be part of the experience. Each applicant was required to undergo an intense “vetting” that included presentation of reference letters, deposits, and interviews before being selected.
The three-month journey into the remote areas of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will allow the students time away from the digital world to have a true, real-life experience learning about geography, culture, challenges, and solutions of these diverse communities.
After CEGEP where Chartier excelled in history and communications, she wasn’t sure what direction she would take. It was her sister Naomi who discovered that Mcgill had an International Development program and made sure to let Chartier know about it. It was a perfect fit and Chartier jumped at the opportunity to register for the program. It turns out that International Development is Mcgill’s fastest growing program.
She knows that the African field studies dovetails perfectly with her academic stream and life aspirations and is delighted that she will gain 15 credits for being part of the big journey. She is dauntless. “When I heard three months of camping in Africa would be a part of this adventure, there was nothing in it that would make me want to not go,” she said, adding that, “These field studies include hands-on learning in research centres, wildlife sanctuaries and villages in remote areas of the countries. We will also learn from many different
groups of people, including nomadic pastoralists, farmers, fishermen, local researchers, and many more.”
According to this gregarious young woman the beauty of International Development is that everyone has a place. Whether one is studying law, medicine, architecture, engineering, sociology, communications or others, there is a place for all these skills to be applied in International Development.
Chartier says that what is different in the approach of International Development from years gone by, is that those going to different countries go to learn about and support other ways and not necessarily to impose western values. “Solutions implemented here might not be successful there. They have their own way. We are there to support locally based management and initiatives that they have and to work in their communities as equal partners.”
She is excited to discover everything and thinks that her future could end up working with an NGO (non-government organization) even if it might be back here in Quebec. “It’s about how countries and governments get involved with other countries in a positive way. The world is our community.”
While away, classes will be taught by two accompanying professors as well as many different local professionals and people living in the remote regions where they will be camping. Contact with them will allow the students to gain an even deeper understanding of the topics directly from these communities. Chartier has opted take a course on anthropology of primates and will be going into sanctuaries to study the monkeys. She said the group will be split into teams of five to do a research project with no Internet to support the work.
It’s reassuring to Chartier’s parents, Robin Badger and Robert Chartier, that the university plans to have a medical doctor in attendance for the duration. “We know that there will be periods when the students will be out of reach of any type of communications, but we also know that the university will not take risks and has accounted for maximum safety possible,” mentioned Badger, who expressed delight for her daughter’s once-in-a lifetime opportunity.
The ambitious full-time student carries two jobs to be able to pursue her studies. This opportunity that has been bestowed on her will cost $15,000. Mcgill funds $3,000, leaving each student to raise the balance. As she braces herself for all the mandatory vaccinations, she is applying to many organizations for funding along with saving her hard-earned money. The ambitious young student aspiring to make a difference to her world community has set up a funding p a g e (https://www.youcaring.com/chloechartier847355) and welcomes any contributions with joy and appreciation. It is her plan to keep everyone in the loop as she heads toward her departure date in January and once back in the land of digital accessibility wants to prepare a newsletter about her three-month adventure. Meanwhile, if anyone has questions and wants to communicate with Chartier she would love to hear from you. Email: chloe.chartier@outlook.com.