IPS—Where the dreams and hopes of the world meet the generosity of P.E.O. s. These five outstanding women from around the world are the recipients of the generosity of many P.E.O.s who have given a gift of $10,000 for an IPS Named Scholarship. Individuals, a chapter or group of chapters, or a state/provincial/district chapter made donations which fund the entire scholarship for an IPS recipient for a year. These awards, along with the love and support of P.E.O.s in the U.S. and Canada, help foster peace around the world, and help make our world a better place.
Cristina Poleacovschi, Moldova
Master of Science in civil engineering,
University of Alabama in Huntsville
VenturaNeale International Peace Scholarship
Chapter M, Miami, Florida
Cristina will complete her degree in civil engineering in 2012 and hopes to teach at the Technical University and work for the Construction Ministry in her home country of Moldova. She has been active with Engineers without Borders organization working to provide sustainable solutions to fundamental problems such as clean water, sanitation and infrastructure in Zambia. Cristina has been a leader in her university’s concrete canoe competition and steel bridge design project, and an officer in professional engineering organizations. Her research involves light-weight self-consolidating concrete and better building insulation practices. The application of her research seeks to improve the environmental impact of engineering infrastructure and contribute to reducing Moldova’s geo-political energy dependency. “Heating is Moldova’s largest utility expense and contributes significantly to the world’s carbon emissions.” She hopes to strengthen her country’s infrastructure and economy, decrease carbon emissions and reduce dependence on foreign fuels.
Silvia Puliti, Italy
Masters in public and community health, University of Montana-Missoula
Gladys E. Knowles International Peace Scholarship
Chapter Y, Billings, Montana
Silvia possesses a rare combination of knowledge, experience, skills and aspirations. As a pharmacist and pharmacy owner/manager in Italy for 20 years, Silvia raised her children and now wants to put her passion into practice. “Along my path and career I strived to help others reach their best health and well being, and I always focused my interest towards those who deserve the most in the developing countries. The HIV pandemic has had a profound impact on health systems of these countries, while reducing resources available for other concerns, and thereby affecting economic growth. My belief is that good health in a population ultimately promotes human rights, progress and development.” This multi-lingual woman has served in a HIV clinic in Tanzania, as part of the National HIV Care and Treatment Program, and plans to return to Africa to pursue a career as a public health officer in developing countries.
Esther Alabi, Nigeria
Master of Arts in accounting,
Washington State University, Pullman
Jean Negus Malmo International Peace Scholarship
Chapter BL, Seattle, Washington
Esther epitomizes an African girl child who constantly strived to overcome barriers imposed by her society and even close members of her family. After graduating in accountancy, she worked in some of Nigeria’s leading banks in positions of increasing responsibility. Her parents remember prosperous days in post-colonial Nigeria when the majority of the populace lived well above the poverty level. “What made that era so intriguing was that agriculture was the mainstay of the country’s economy and most of the income accruing to the government was as a result of tax revenues.” Her country is now one of the poorest in the world, despite oil revenues. Esther feels that the days of the oil boom in Nigeria are not eternal and only an efficient tax system will sustain her nation in the long run. Her goal is to help put her nation back on the path of economic prosperity.
Katie Johnston, Northern Ireland
Master of Laws in international legal studies, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Virginia R. Sayre International Peace Scholarship
Chapter J, Alexandria, Virginia
Growing up in Belfast, Katie “saw the damage when the law of the land did not embody good moral values,” and she now understands the importance of law in providing for a fair and peaceful society. She was a top law student at Oxford, founded Oxford Women for Women International, and was honored as the student who added the most to the college in 2008. She won the UK title with her Moot Court team, then placedninth in the world. At Georgetown, she is currently studying international human rights law, the law of war and refugee law. Katie shows exceptional promise as a future lawyer and advocate for public issues, and hopes to return to Northern Ireland to use her skills to aid the reconstruction of civil society, either working for a Non-Government Organization (NGO) or possibly in judicial or political office.
Izzah Akram Malik, Pakistan
Master of Science in public affairs,
University of Texas at Austin
Marian K. Hume International Peace Scholarship
Chapter AF, Cleveland, Ohio
As a child, Izzah moved frequently, lived in diverse communities and saw poverty and inequalities in her country. At an early age, she resolved to work in some capacity to alleviate the suffering. In her gap year after high school she witnessed the extensive rural development program of the Aga Khan Foundation in the Hunza Valley where the literacy rate is now 98 percent and crime rate extremely low. Izzah realized that development is possible in Pakistan. “Pakistan is currently experiencing a social change, the whispers of which do not reach global observers who view Pakistan only in terms of terrorism. This wave of change is being brought forth by the youth of the country who want to become a part of the solution.” Izzah believes that education is the most significant component in Pakistan’s development process. She has interned with United Nations Development Programme and the Ministry of Finance and with her graduate degree she hopes to positively contribute to the policy-makingprocess in her country.
