This fantastic first year as a Graduate Institute student would not have been possible without the generous support of the alumni community. I have so far put a huge effort towards obtaining excellent academic results and engaging in academic life.

After working for four years in development, my main academic goals at the Institute were to deepen my knowledge in my areas of interest – social development, gender and Latin American studies – and to acquire an economic perspective in these topics. I have so far had the chance to attend courses offering me the analytical tools crucial for my academic path. For my thesis, I plan to explore the concepts of community-based and inclusive development, analysing the difficulties in implementing participatory approaches in practice.

Considering the importance of complementing academic knowledge with professional abilities and skills, I have attended number of practical workshops taught in French and English interchangeably, which have offered an incredible opportunity to master a set of management tools in a truly bilingual atmosphere. Another fundamental contribution to my career path was the Applied Research Seminar (ARS), which has allowed me to collaborate with the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD). Together, we are currently developing research on the gender dimensions of violence in urban scenarios.

During my first year, I was also member of two Graduate Institute Student Initiatives: the Latin American Network Initiative (LANI), which allows students to present their work in Latin American topics and receive feedback from professors and peers, and the Gender Dialogues, which has been raising awareness about gender inequality and creating a bridge between the academic concepts discussed in class and gender issues in daily life. In May 2015, I was elected as GISA Vice-President of Master Programmes. This is a wonderful opportunity to represent the student body and to interact more with staff, professors and the alumni community.

My experience at the Graduate Institute has so far been an intensive learning journey that is making me a better academic and a better professional. It has been life-changing. Studying with world-renowned professors and fascinating classmates has been a privilege. I am profoundly honoured to be a part of this institution and grateful to the alumni community for making this experience possible through their financial support. I am extremely excited to begin the second year of my Master, and to continue enjoying the incredible opportunities that Graduate Institute has to offer.

Many thanks again.

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