Bucknell Scholar Travels Abroad to Conduct Research, Lend Support

Bucknell University Scholar Jemmy Moreira, a junior studying psychology and religious studies, has broken up her time on campus with excursions abroad, expanding her experiences and horizons.

“Travelling to two different countries gave me an opportunity to conduct research about topics I care about,” Jemmy says.

She spent last summer in the Dominican Republic interning with Project Hearts, a community-based nonprofit organization that is building sustainable solutions for development.

“I gained a better understanding of diversity, both within America and globally.”

While at Project Hearts, Jemmy lived in a small village outside of Santiago. She worked in the organization’s psychology program, travelling to different communities helping to facilitate mental health workshops. Jemmy had the opportunity to build workshops alongside Project Hearts staff psychologists, with the collective aim to challenge stereotypes and the stigma associated with mental health needs.

During her sophomore year, Jemmy studied abroad in Bolivia at the School of International Training in a program focused on multiculturalism, globalization and social change. Her studies included an independent research project on the strategies Bolivian youth use to stay in touch with cultural identities. Jemmy collaborated with local organizations to interview young people.

“The highlight of my time in Bolivia was living with a host family,” Jemmy says, noting that it allowed for full cultural immersion. She was also able to see first-hand how current politics affected her host family.

Jemmy is now connecting what she learned in Bolivia back to life at Bucknell and beyond.

“The opportunities Posse and Bucknell have afforded me helped me gain a better understanding of diversity, both within America and globally,” she says.