Isabel Friedl '25 and Alice Carlson '25 were recipients of the Projects For Peace award and will be working with local farmers in Bali to repair irrigation systems as well as community work promoting sustainable waste management practices.
Why did you choose to apply for this award?
We chose to apply for this award because we think it is an incredible opportunity to promote peace on a global scale, and we were able to incorporate both of our interests in sustainable environmental stewardship, agriculture, and development.
Briefly describe the work you will be doing on your fellowship.
We will be working with local farmers to repair the irrigation system of their rice fields in a village in Bali, Indonesia. We will also be conducting community workshops promoting sustainable practices and education about waste management.
What are you most looking forward to during your time as a fellow?
Isabel is excited to learning about how the natural world is intertwined with daily life. Alice is eager to learn about the agricultural systems in Indonesia. Both of us study Religious Studies at Oxy, so we are excited to be immersed in a religious culture (Balinese Hinduism) and to engage with the more-than-human world.
How have your experiences at Â鶹ÊÓƵprepared you to apply for this award?
We have both studied abroad at Oxy. Isabel went to Indonesia (which is how she first connected with the village that we will be working with) and Alice went to Tunisia. We both conducted research projects abroad. Alice's was about sustainable agriculture in rural Tunisia, which sparked her interested in engaging with agricultural systems in more global contexts, and in learning how sustainable agriculture can create climate resilience for rural communities. Isabel studied the Indonesian language, which will help immensely for this project, and she also made connections with this village in particular. She also received a grant through the Economics department at Â鶹ÊÓƵthat allowed her to go back to Indonesia in the summer of 2024, where she furthered her research on thematic villages in Indonesia.
What advice would you give future applicants about the application process?
Just go for it! Â鶹ÊÓƵhas so many opportunities for grants and funding, and you are more likely to get an award than you think. Don't let imposter syndrome keep you down.