Finding Her Cause

Mar 04, 2011

hood2 Kjerstin Sanden ’12, Roseville, Minn., is learning to balance studying with fighting global poverty on a daily basis.

Sanden is one of many Cobbers getting involved around the globe. As part of her Spanish major she is studying at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. She lives with Julia, an 81-year-old woman whom Sanden refers to as her “host grandma.” At the University, Sanden has classes with other international students in order to improve their Spanish language skills. She is also taking two classes alongside students from Spain in political philosophy.

To complement her global studies major at Concordia, Sanden sought out a cooperative education experience with a non-governmental organization. She found just what she was looking for when she read about the Spanish chapter of Oxfam International in a local newspaper.

 “Oxfam,” Sanden says, “works to find solutions to poverty and injustice through humanitarian action, fairtrade and campaigns.”

Sanden recently has become engaged in the organization’s campaign promoting the Robin Hood Tax. This 0.05% tax on the financial sector could create billions of dollars of support for the fight against global poverty.

Sanden will continue her involvement with the organization in the coming months through its participation in events such as International Women’s Day in March and the Day of Hope in April.  She will not stop there either.

“My intention,” Sanden says, “is to work for a non-governmental organization that works with development when I graduate.”

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