Lydia Feinberg

Maxwell School of Citizenship

I want to emphasize how life-changing of an experience not only working with the head of the organization was, but also being in South Africa at the time of research as well. There is no doubt in my mind that a student at Syracuse University would feel the same. I actually presented the idea of iKapa Impact somehow being affiliated with the Maxwell School when I returned from South Africa in October 2014. 

The research I conducted and the report I created for the head of the non-profit followed the exact template I was taught during my PAF 315 class. What I learned at Syracuse University was absolutely transferable to what I collected from non-profit organizations across Cape Town. I can’t stress enough the value of being able to take what I learned at Maxwell, and quite literally apply it to the real world. To boot, what I learned in PAF 315 is that data is even more valuable when collected in person; there’s no better way to immerse yourself in the research than experiencing it for yourself. 

I hope that another Syracuse University student like me can have the experience of a lifetime and get a taste of how NGO’s work outside the US.