Summer program produces student documentarians

Some college students use the summer as a time to relax and distance themselves from responsibilities.

For Students of the World, the summer is the best time to become more connected and engaged in issues around the world.

“Students can engage in the world and come home to raise awareness,” said Courtney Spence, founder and president of the nonprofit organization.

Each summer, participating chapters send teams around the world to document the work of a nonprofit organization.

Applications for this year’s program will be accepted until Nov. 26 at www.studentsoftheworld.org.

Last summer, six UNC students traveled to Mexico to document the work of a midwifery program as well as its efforts to educate and help women with sexual education and basic health needs.

“The people we met were really inspiring,” said junior Eloise Stancioff, an international studies and geography major. “It was a really empowering experience as a woman.”

As a sophomore at Duke University in 1999, Spence created this program for college students to help nonprofit organizations by creating media pieces such as blogs, photos and films.

Her idea was a hit. Since the debut trip to Russia that year, Students of the World has sent more than 250 students involved with more than 40 nonprofit organizations to about 30 countries around the world.

“My hope was that it would be started by other students,” Spence said. “I did not want to push it so much. I wanted to see if it had merit on its own.”

Seven universities — New York University, Columbia University, Brown University, Duke University, University of Texas, University of Michigan and UNC — have chapters of this organization. UNC started its chapter in 2005.

Students use journalism skills to document what they experience. For each six-member team there is a producer, a photographer, an online producer, an interviewer, and two filmmakers. But these roles are not limiting.

“Once you get there you forget what you are supposed to be doing,” Stancioff said, who was a producer. “You just do whatever needs to be done.”

Some students who participate have little experience in the realm of journalism.

“I learned a lot about making a documentary and what goes into that and the positive role journalism can have in sharing people’s experiences,” said senior Cameron Randall, who is also chief of staff in student government.

“That was something I had not been exposed to.”

Spence said the organization is revising the program to attract more students. Participants will be able to upload their videos and photos to the Web site in real time.

Last summer’s UNC team is still working together for two separate causes. One includes their continuing fundraising support of the midwifery in Mexico, and the other is recruiting more students for next summer’s team.

“You learn a lot about yourself, a lot about a cause and a lot of the people you are with, so you can’t go wrong,” Stancioff said.



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