Country of origin: Cameroon

Places I have lived: Cameroon, Nigeria, USA

Places I have visited: Benin, France, Togo, United Kingdom

Places interested in working or visiting: Australia, Canada, Japan and South Africa

Education:

1. Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages and Literatures, concentration in French, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, March 1994;
2. Master of Arts in Applied Foreign Languages, concentration in English Literature, University of Dschang, Cameroon, February 2001;
3. Master of Philosophy in African Studies, concentration in African Literature, University of Dschang, Cameroon, June 2003

Extracurricular Interests: Entertainment, meditation, meeting people, reading and writing, teaching, acting, theatre and music, and travelling.

Volunteer activities:I have come a pretty long way with regard to extracurricular and volunteer activities. A rich cross-cultural diversity has led to the following areas:

1. Church: Education, Pastoral and Evangelization Ministries
2. Secular: Building People’s Skills and Community Development

Professional experience: Junior Chamber International (JCI) Certified Local Trainer, concentration in Leadership Development

Favorite Quotes:

“I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).

“… service to humanity is the best work of life” (JCI Creed).

“Be on watch, be alert, for you do not know when the time will come” (Mark 13:33).

Country of origin: I am born of West Indian parents (Jamaica, West Indies). I, however, was born in the United States.

Places I have lived: I have never lived outside the borders of the United States, however, due travel frequently to Jamaica.

Places interested in working or visiting: Have a great interest in working and visiting Africa, Asia and other Caribbean islands.

Education: BA in Criminal Justice, BS in Nursing, MSN in Public Health Nursing, and currently a Master's degree candidate in adult nurse practitioner track.

Extracurricular Interests and Volunteer activities: I volunteered with a missionary group called Mission Jamaica in 2000-2001. 

Professional goals: Planning on conducting research in Jamaica, West Indies in the near future focusing on the quality of health care services provided to victims of gender violence, and how these services can possibly be improved. 

Country of origin: United States

Places I have lived: France and USA

Places interested in working or visiting: I have a strong interest in countries in the continents of Africa, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Israel, and most of the Middle East-pretty much everywhere!

Education: BA in International Affairs with concentration in Conflict and Security, minors in French Language & Literature and Political Science.

Professional goals: : I plan to pursue a M.A./M.S. in International Development & Public Health. I also want to further my French and one hopefully work with War Child, an organization like the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, or WHO.

Country of origin: USA

Places I have lived: Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs and Cork, Ireland

Places interested in working or visiting: I am very interested in visiting the Middle East, India and China and I hope to one day return to Africa.

Education: Lehigh University 2003 (B.S.), University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, 2007 (M.S. Ed)

Personal goals: Become more involved in my own community and better understand how local issues affect global circumstances.

Favorite Quotes:
"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page" - Saint Augustine

"The challenge today is not simply to teach students to "know the other." It is to help students see the world and its wonders and problems through the eyes and minds of others, to explore alternative interpretations of events and trends." - Clara M. Lovett

“I come from a middle class family where travel study and study abroad programs are too expensive to even consider and the money could always be used somewhere else. If I were to raising the funds myself, it would take weekly budget sacrifices, requires multiple jobs, and a prayer I’d be able to make it. I’ve never complained about my situation and always appreciated what my family had to offer. We are first generation immigrants coming from a third world country to better our lives and situation by uprooting to America. I can’t think of a better situation than what ESF is offering. For the first time I can say I am going to Africa.”

Places interested in working or visiting: In the near future I plan to work within the Philadelphia area for a couple of years, move to New York, NY and eventually make my way to Northern California. I’d like to travel anywhere around the world – traveling is a passion and am always looking for an opportunity to do so.

Personal and Professional Goals: I earned a Bachelor's degree in Speech-Language Hearing Sciences at La Salle University, 2008. I am a Graduate Student at La Salle to eventually become a Speech Language Pathologist. Later on in life I’d like to continue my education for a Ph. D. in Audiology. I would also like to incorporate humanitarian efforts and travel as part of my life goals. One of my dreams is to start up or become a part of a traveling group of healthcare providers offering their services in under privilege areas of the world.

Extracurricular and Volunteer activities: President, Cross Cultural Association, Aug. 2006-2008, Vice President, National Student Speech Hearing Language Association (NSSHLA), Aug 2007-2008, Facilitated fundraisers, track meeting minutes, plan and run events/ meetings, and attended PSHA conference 2007. Co-coordinator, Books for Africa, Nov. 2006- 2008, Founding member of La Salle branch. Week of Hope Boston, La Salle University Service Trips- A week long service trip comprised of 10 students and a faculty chaperone to work with Community Servings, a meal preparation and delivery non-profit organization in South Boston. Talent Advancement Program, University of Massachusetts-Amherst - Selective program for freshmen Psychology majors for communal learning and living.

This organization is extremely important to the world. ESF will continue to support our future world leaders and provide a venue for them to be "responsible in their life, have integrity and support others regardless of their economic, social, religious and/or ethnic status." A personal plea for assistance is being made. Every dollar, every donation of clothes, non-perishable food, medical supplies, equipment, vitamins, medication, computers, books, and school supplies will go a very long way in the hands of those in need! Please help us help others.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at SCollins@ExplorersSF.org. It is a real pleasure to share the progressive efforts that began on a grass roots level.

B'Shalom,
Shonta D. Collins