I just returned from Mexico where I was working on an economic development project in an isolated area of Baja California with roughly 100 residents. In contrast, I am now preparing to travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh where there are over seven million inhabitants! Bangladesh, with a population density of 1090 person per square kilometer, is considered by many to be the mostly densely populated country in the world.

I will be working with an organization called the Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organization (BERDO) that empowers people with disabilities through income generation, leadership development, education and training. I was drawn to this fellowship because of the overwhelming need for services for people with disabilities in Bangladesh. I have experience advocating for legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act but am excited to learn about disability advocacy on a completely different level in Bangladesh.

To prepare for my trip, I took a class at the Islamic Center of San Diego and have been reading Brick Lane. I am not sure what will unfold for my workplan, but I am ready to jump into a new experience. In terms of projects, I hope to work with BERDO’s unique microfinance program that pairs members of the disability community with those from the non-disabled community to create awareness while working to alleviate poverty.

Now for a long flight…