Alondra Perez's Blog

List ten things that make you feel human.
-When I start crying because of frustration and pain.
-When I break out into laughter and not being able to control myself for a couple of seconds because of how swallowed I get within a joke.
-During meditation sessions
-Getting someone to laugh and smile
-Hugging someone I care deeply about
-When I hear birds chirping early in the morning
-When anxiety kicks in
-Uplifting someone through, for example, compliments
-Telling someone “I love you”
-Experiencing a sense of relief and comfort

Articulate your philosophy of engagement as it pertains to your work with the GSIF/ LVSIF? Specifically, Discuss: Why should I engage? How must I engage? With who must I engage? What kinds of challenges, opportunities, and approaches should I care about? What my epitaph might read?
My GSIF project is to address the air quality issue in Almaty, Kazakhstan. I
should engage because I could positively contribute to the issue that is tremendously impacting the people of Almaty. I could use my skills and strengths to collaborate with the locals and be an outside motivation source that serves as a push to the residents and NGOs to head towards change. To avoid my work and involvement being viewed as “saviorism” and belittlement to the people’s capabilities, I have to be careful that I show respect at all times. The way I plan on engaging is to have an articulate plan set up before I arrive in Almaty. I want to make sure that the people of Almaty view me as trustworthy and very knowledgable of the problem. My group is currently in aa process of writing a report regarding the specifics of the issue that the common people of Almaty may not be aware of due to the city itself not being very proactive on trying to address the outdated air quality monitors that are painting a false picture. I do not want to come off in a way that seems like I think I am superior and better-qualified for addressing the issue though. Those are clearly not my intentions at all.

When the time arrives to do fieldwork in Almaty, I want to be transparent with the local partners. I want to explain my plan in as much detail and the reasoning behind each component. I plan on engaging with the local environmental NGOs and residents that are directly impacted by the issue on a daily basis. They are the key collaborators because of how significant their role is in pressuring for environmental changes that go beyond the amount of time that I will be involved with this project. They also hold the least biases because their health will be of main concern, which is my group’s priority as well. In the United States, there is a lot of conflicts when trying to achieve impactful environmental change because of the people who have the power not going through the everyday life of the common people. Speaking from the experience of my neighborhood, the people in power do not truly understand the impacts of environmental degradation on our everyday lives because they never lived it and never really try to reach out. I have learned from these big flaws in the United States and want to avoid them myself when I go to Kazakhstan to implement an environmental plan.

Challenges that I will possibly have in my way of engaging is a language barrier. Although I will love to learn Russian, in reality, several months of learning Russian will not be enough to connect with the people on a deeper level. There will be things I want to explain and converse about, but language will keep me away from being able to. I am sure there will be a translator but there is nothing like being able to speak to the person yourself. Another challenge are cultural differences. Certain things in my group’s plan might cultural norms. One that my group has already discussed with a Kazakh native is that we are going to recommend that people leave their windows closed especially at night. We learned that it is part of their cultural norms to leave windows down to allow fresh air to “clean” the house. Unfortunately, this is not a great idea with pollutants piling up in the atmosphere and staying concentrated in the city due to a combination of wind patterns and the altitude of the city. It goes back to that idea of respect and trying to avoid any sort of invasion of the people’s ways of doing things. However, we need to make aware that this idea of leaving the windows open to clean the house is not actually true and may be causing more harm to people’s health. An approach I will have is to make it aware that I respect their ways of living and even share some of my personal cultural practices. I want to try to relate to them as much as I can which I feel like I can. There are so many people who have tried to assist my home countries, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, and I understand how it invading it can sometimes to have outsiders assist.

My epitaph would read as follows:

Alondra Lisseth Perez,
A selfless soul who always wanted to
make a positive impact on the people
who fell into the dark shadows.

7 September 2000→(Hopefully no time soon)

1.) There are two sides to the project: the prevention side and the side of fixing the side effects. The prevention side includes working with the current companies and government of Almaty, which can be long and extensive. For this reason, we’re choosing to go on the route of cleaning the air as it is. Through our design process, we need to further research the technology behind filter technology. Specifically, after identifying the main pollutants in the air, we will need to conduct further tests on what is the best way to capture them and help clear the air. Possible technology includes a few brands that have created nasal screens that help prevent allergens, pollutants, from entering your lungs. The design is simple, yet sold costly of around $11 per package which includes 7 pairs. Our creation would be to expand on this technology and try to make them reusable since the ones Avalon the market are one time uses for 24 hours. They are expensive and not an accessible product for a population such as Kazakhstan. Through our design process we would need to find effective ways to bring down the cost, yet keep the functionality. To create a product like this we would have to first get our hands on it, and research and test its capabilities. We would need to bring this issue to our engineer peers and professors who can give us feedback and help us. We would need funding to acquire the tools necessary to test the product.
2.) Most important stakeholders
–> The citizens of Almaty
All social classes could be positively impacted
The effects of air pollution are not limited to one type of class.
67.98% are Kazakhs, while the remaining are Russian
Islamic- 70%, Christian- 30%
55 percent female, 45% male
They value their city- mountains, environment, culture
–> The state government
Wealthy→ Top of the social class
As the government, there is an interest in bettering the health of the residents.
They have the legal power
One of the issues that are causing such poor air quality is the loose regulations.
The government needs to reinforce more
The interest in making money
Stimulating the economy of Kazakhstan. ( This depends on the direction we go with our plan/ project
Connections
The legal power allows them to be connected to other people in power.
Intelligence through experience
–>The NGOs or nonprofit
Not just focused on the economy
More concerned about the impact on the common people of Almaty
Funding→ Can help with making sure that the money needed to successfully implement a plan is provided.
Possible connections
Like one of the SGDs has listed, the collaboration and connections are crucial.
Power
Can pressure the government to make sure there is change and that the air quality issues are being addressed
Influence
From personal experience, I noticed that communities tend to “trust” NGOs a lot more than organizations and
individuals directly connected with the government.
3.) Validate Project Concept, Technology, Usability, and Business Model
a.) The reactions of the people in Almaty about our idea
Making sure our idea aligns with their values and culture
Having the people accept the issue we are trying to fix and understanding that we want to help
Wanting the people to be accepting of our ideas
b.)If the technology/concept produce effective results in preventing air quality health issues
We need to run tests and to ensure that if we create a product that it does what we need it to.
If we go with our nose strips idea, making sure that they are filtering out the correct pollutants
If we create public service announcements making sure they are effective and reach the people that need
to see them
c.)Usability
Making sure it is easy for everyone that needs to be using it to use so that the product works
correctly or if we have public service announcements; making sure that they are clear and easy to
understand and noticeable
Assuring that the technology used is durable and long-lasting. If it is announcements we must assure
they will be up and sustain weather.
Instructions must be clear

4.) My one friend from Cambodia told me how his parents do not let him date at all because when he turned 18, he will have an arranged marriage set up for him. I was so surprised by this and kind of annoyed that his parents were invading his life like this. I just kept wondering “How can you truly love that person?” He then explained how every man in his family did this, especially the ones that are here in the United States already. Another alien concept that I learned from a friend was that in Japan, the doctors get paid well when their patients are healthy. I have only been exposed to the way that the United States’ healthcare is set up, so this was super interesting to me. Although it was different from what I am used to, it made me reevaluate the way the United States is set up and I began to think that Japan’s healthcare concept actually made more sense. Last but not least, another alien concept I learned from a friend is also from Cambodia. He was telling me that when a person is sick, they scratch the back of the individual’s back with a coin and vaseline. I saw pictures of the coin scratching and became concerned about whether they were actually making the situation worse because of how painful it looked and sounded.

List the top 20 questions your team needs to answer to advance the venture forward. Categorize the questions if necessary:
What is the main objective of our project?
Who are we trying to impact?
Who is most impacted by the issue?
What sector of air quality can we impact?
What impact are we going to have?
What are the externalities of Kazakhstan’s air pollution?
What are the main pollutants affecting the community?
What side effects do the pollutants have?
How does air pollution impact the rest of the environment in Almaty? Water? Soil?
How can we use culture to our advantage?
How does outdated technology impact the project and our direction?
What work are people there already doing towards combating the poor air pollution?
What factors into the poor air quality?
What bias are there in the information we receive due to the type of government there is?
How has Kazakhstan attempted to address this issue before?
How can we show that improved air quality can have a positive impact on the economy?
How can we adapt to their culture while doing fieldwork?
Will the government play a part in the solution that we come up with?
How can we most effectively use our resources?
What are the people in Almaty’s perspective of air quality?
How aware are people in Almaty about air quality issues?

Our project’s logic model:
Inputs:
Collaboration with people
Developed partnerships
Research
–> Research exact pollutants that are affecting people in Almaty and the main sources of pollution
Planning
Outside funding
Outputs:
Improved air quality measuring methods
create a blueprint for powerplant filters
Public Health Announcements–> Time of day and temperature when air pollution is the worst
Improved human health
–> Decrease amount of respiratory diseases
–> Improvement of cardiovascular health
Nasal Strips (filter)
Outcomes:
Almaty residents that are more educated and aware of the air quality issue
Behavioral changes (more eco-friendly residents)
Ability to see the mountains
–> A lot of pride is held within them

1.) Give three compelling examples of how cultural issues affect your project.

When implementing my project in Almaty, Kazakhstan, I am definitely expecting to run into cultural problems when trying to collaborate with the local residents. To start, I believe that my nationality may cause some mixed feelings amongst the people of Almaty. I am going to Almaty with the intention of working with them to solve the air quality issue. I know that my intentions are not to intrude or come off superior; however, the locals could possibly view my involvement as some form of “saviorism”. Kazakhstan is a developing nation and I do not want them to perceive my concern and project as some sort of insult to their capabilities. As an American, I need to make sure that I take extra precaution to not invade any boundaries. I have not experienced the culture of Kazakhstan, so I am not completely sure of what to expect. It is good that I go into Almaty with these thoughts though and understand that there is some tension toward the American identity, especially with some of our current political involvements. Another cultural issue is understanding the way the work environment atmosphere is like. During this week’s lecture, Professor Mehta talked about how there could be a lot of miscommunication when working on a project with locals. I could say, “Could you please work on this for me?”, while the locals could possibly take that as an “Oh, I don’t really need to do it. It was not commanded”. I have to make sure to have patience and make sure that I make sure that both sides understand what is exactly wanted from each other. Last but not least, on top of my American identity, I am also very different physically. Just like the United States, there is much cultural influence on the way people dress, speak, and overall present themselves. I need to be aware of these different cultural expectations when possibly viewed in a negative way due to something I did or say. I will most likely embarrass myself, so I need to embrace those moments instead of letting them negatively impact my experience.

2.) Have you experienced or observed any of these social situations at home? Describe at least three sich situations.

I have definitely observed and experienced these social situations at home. Although I am at home, not everyone grew up around the same cultural and social values. I have observed “saviorism” being done in my neighborhood from outsiders. There is an opioid epidemic that has been devastating in my neighborhood for decades. As a result, there are many nonprofits that have a focus on addressing this issue. Most of the workers and volunteers never lived in my neighborhood, which automatically causes a distance between them and the locals. Of course, some of the workers have no intention of making the locals feel inferior, but it can sometimes look like the outsiders are crossing boundaries. They have to understand this and be aware of it. In addition, I have also embarrassed myself at Lehigh. I sometimes forget that not everyone grew up in a place that was anything like my hometown, Philadelphia. I sometimes act a certain way that is understood by the people back at home but ends up embarrassing myself here at Lehigh because of the lack of relatability. I just have to remind myself of possible differences and be patient. I have also observed miscommunication amongst Lehigh students. Some Lehigh students are experiencing American culture for the very first time. My one friend was extremely offended by her international friend that made a comment on her eating habits. The international student was having a hard time understanding what was wrong, which irritated my friend even more. I had to intervene and remind them to calm down and try to understand that they were both from two extremely different cultures. The clashing of cultures are common, an individual just needs to know how to address these sometimes embarrassing and even triggering situations.

3.) Give three examples of cultural practices that can be leveraged to address community/market problems.

One cultural practice is to have more collaborative projects with other countries. I am sure that GSIF is not the only one, but this type of collaboration can definitely address the community/market problems as described. Working on impactful projects will benefit both sides’ communication skills and even strengthen the project itself due to the diverse group’s different perspectives. Another cultural practice is to have workshops built into the school curriculum that is similar to the one of GSIF. We are learning about the need for global collaboration as we enter a time of many new conditions that need to be considered. No country is alone when facing issues like Almaty with its air quality. There needs to be workshops that emphasize the need for global collaboration and have young adults/teenagers realizing that as soon as possible. Lastly, similar to the previous one, there should also be workshops provided that make people aware of the different cultures around the world. The workshops should consist of learning about the different expectations, work environments, and overall lifestyles around the world. If individuals are exposed to this starting at a young age, they will be able to better approach cultural clashes.

I enrolled in this course because I have always been passionate about impacting on a global scale. My project is Community Engagement and Environmental Initiatives in Kazakhstan. I grew up in a community that is unfortunately forgotten and does not have a lot of power to voice out for themselves. My community consists of a lot of people who are trapped in the poverty cycle, so they are constantly in survival mode. Pollution and overall environmental neglect are common in my community due to the lack of resources, finances, and education. The Global Social Impact Fellowship (GSIF) program’s mission resonated with me because I thought of how I want to be part of the solutions to the issues that communities who lack a voice are dealing with.

I aspire to become the person that my community is in desperate need of. My enrollment in the program will give me the tools that I need to heal and collaborate with communities like the one I am from. I will be able to gain hands-on experience that will actually have an impact on the world. The course will allow me to be innovative and act upon my ideas.

I envision this course making me a better student because of the real-world challenges that I will be navigating through. I have sat through many lectures that repeatedly told me what the issues were and how action is immediately required.

I am now being given a platform to do something about the presented issues. The experience will also allow me to sculpt myself to be a more innovative and creative thinker. Those traits are desperately needed because I will be solving issues that have never been figured out or encountered within my future career. The fellowship will allow me to get involved and experience with issues that I am passionate about and begin my mission and journey of life: making a change for a better future. In addition, the GSIF program will make me a better student because of the realistic experience of trial and error. My project is new, so my team will have to navigate through the issue without any work to use as a format or guide. We will need to learn how to be patient and embrace failure. These projects are addressing issues that have not been solved yet so I will be gaining an understanding of why failure should not let you down. Without failure, there will be no improvements. This first-hand experience will build a student who thinks out the box and acknowledges that the process to success is not a smooth ride.

The global issue of over one billion people not having access to a pair of eyeglasses, according to the World Health Organization is an alarming issue that needs to be addressed. The way I would address the issue is by setting up a global recycling program that allows people to donate their old pairs of eyeglasses. According to Jobson Research, about 177 million people in the United States need some form of vision correction. Of those 177 million people, 64% use eyeglasses. Eyeglass users are constantly renewing their pairs of eyeglasses throughout their lifetime due to minor scratches, prescription change, etc.

The recycling program will allow eyeglass users to recycle their old eyeglasses instead of tossing them out or just letting them sit in a drawer. The program will need to be a collaborative system that connects as many pharmacies and eye doctor offices. The process of donating would simply consist of a drop box located at as many locations as possible where an individual can give as many old eyeglasses as they can. The recycling program will be based in the United States. There will be monthly pick-ups from each donation box so that the used eyeglasses can be sorted out by prescription and sent out to the places that are in desperate need of this medical attention. Kenya was an example that was given as a nation that is in need of eyeglasses. Therefore, there would be offices scattered throughout Kenya where they can fill out an application explaining their need for a pair of eyeglasses. After the application is submitted, there will be an eye evaluation. The eye evaluation will allow the office to provide the individual with the most convenient prescription.

A problem that I may encounter with this recycling program is the funding for the abroad offices that will be in charge of equally distributing eyeglasses to people in need. This global issue will also need to be addressed by making the public aware of the issue. Along with the recycling program, I would utilize social media as a platform for making people aware of the issue and motivated to participate and contribute. With education and awareness, the recycling program can be even more successful and impactful.