The journey of figuring out what you want to do after high school isn’t linear, and Abigail Persaud is an example of how seizing new opportunities can lead to the most profound experiences of self-discovery and impact. As she completes her final term of her undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo, the experiences she has gained through her time at the university have provided a strong foundation for her to be a part of the meaningful change that Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) alumni are making around the world.
Abigail Persaud, a 4th-year Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) student, explored global opportunities through the Beyond Borders program at St. Jerome’s and completed a co-op term working abroad in Uganda. The Beyond Borders program provides students with an international service-learning experience where they can explore new cultures and discover alternative perspectives and ways of life around the world. She worked with Reach One Touch One Ministries (ROTOM) in Mukono, Uganda, a non-profit organization that supports international fellowship to provide care to older adults and the grandchildren that depend on them in both Uganda and Ethiopia. As an Intergenerational Support Worker, she provided direct hands-on support in Uganda.
Her experience working abroad gave her a new perspective on how she approaches work and how peace and conflict studies can fit into that. As a local student from Waterloo, she had never lived this far away from her family and had to navigate a new job and country all at the same time. There were a lot of complexities that came with her experience aboard. However, despite the challenges associated with working and living in a new country, she reflects positively on how she was able to approach different situations with grace and understanding, something she credits to learning from her PACS courses. Although new experiences can be intimidating, they provide the biggest opportunities for learning and growth, and that’s exactly what she experienced.
One of the most memorable moments of her internship was being welcomed into the homes of the people in Uganda and getting to learn about their stories and experiences. As a part of her job, she would write stories of impact about how ROTOM positively influenced their lives. “They were so excited to speak with me, and just listening to the things they have overcome in their lives is something I will never forget,” she expressed. This helped her to realize how much she enjoyed being on the ground and getting to experience the culture first-hand.
During her time abroad, she got to speak to a group of 70 students about the importance of her education and how it impacted her life and her community. “It was a very special moment for me to speak as a woman who is pursuing a university education to a group of students who were so excited to hear me speak and learn from my experiences.”
As a PACS student, Abigail took a variety of courses that helped her succeed in her co-op placement abroad. Working in a new country with a different set of cultural values can be challenging and difficult to navigate. One course in particular, PACS 323: Negotiation: Theories and Strategies, taught her how to speak to other people in the workplace and to be able to meet the needs of both parties when communicating. “When I was in Uganda, I was exposed to a different culture in a different work environment, and being able to communicate my needs professionally was one of the most valuable skills I used while working abroad,” she explained. The thing that makes the PACS program so valuable is its versatility and applicability in a variety of areas and situations.
Abigail is set to graduate this June and believes her time in the PACS program has set her up to make real, meaningful change in her community. “PACS helped me to expand my perspective and discover my passion and excitement for serving the needs of my community and I hope to continue doing that after graduation.” Wherever her future takes her, the experiences she has had in the PACS program will continue to have a ripple effect on our community and beyond.
By Brooke Driscoll