Nicholas Van Woert, S-CAR and University of Malta Dual Degree
Nicholas Van Woert is a graduate of the dual degree Master’s program in Conflict Analysis and Mediterranean Security offered by S-CAR and the University of Malta. He came to the field of Conflict Resolution with a background in history and a desire to apply the lessons of the past to the problems of the present in an effort to contribute to the discussion on conflict and international development. Nicholas tells me, “I would never want to be the voice, but rather a perspective on a round table that will help those responsible for making decisions on projects benefitting communities around the world.” To achieve his goal, Nicholas began volunteering with Communities Without Boundaries International (CWBI) after taking a course on reflective practice with Maneshka Eliatamby, CWBI’s Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer, and S-CAR Ph.D. alumna.
Nicholas is currently a Program Associate with CWBI and is primarily engaged on the Youth Without Boundaries (YWB) initiative, a program responsible for empowering youth around the world to create and implement sustainable, community based projects. He states, “The best experience of CWBI is having the opportunity to meet so many people from around the world. Connecting with people from different backgrounds and exchanging stories makes my position at CWBI so worthwhile. The stories I have heard from individuals can be heart breaking, but at the same time, I hear stories that give me hope for the future.”
He is also engaged with another international NGO, Spirit of Soccer (SOS), and currently acts as their social media specialist. Spirit of Soccer uses the sport as a tool for education to teach children in conflict and post-conflict zones about landmines, explosive remnants of war, and unexploded ordinance. SOS’s most recent program set up at the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan, works with children from Syria and teaches them how to identify an explosive item and what steps should be taken in the event that they find one.
In the future, Nicholas hopes to continue working with communities to identify their needs and develop programs to fulfill those needs. He aims to further his work with CWBI to create a network of colleagues around the world interested in tackling issues like the Millennium Development Goals. “We must recognize that we have the power to make the future what we want and it is important to gain perspective from as many different people as possible.” Information on Communities Without Boundaries International can be found at http://www.cwbi.org/. Check out Spirit of Soccer’s webpage at http://spiritofsoccer.net/.