February 29, 2012

Recent Alumni Spotlight: Carolyn Worthge

The folks in 3CE caught up with Carolyn Worthge, over winter break to hear more about her experience working with the ONE Campaign as a Faiths Act Fellow with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. Carolyn, originally from San Mateo, California, graduated from Lewis & Clark in May 2011 with a degree in Sociology/Anthropology and a minor in Music.

The folks in 3CE caught up with Carolyn Worthge, over winter break to hear more about her experience working with the ONE Campaign as a Faiths Act Fellow with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. Carolyn, originally from San Mateo, California, graduated from Lewis & Clark in May 2011 with a degree in Sociology/Anthropology and a minor in Music.

3CE: Tell us a little bit about your experience as a Faiths Act Fellow with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation.

Carolyn Worthge:  The Faiths Act Fellowship brings together 34 people from different faith backgrounds to work in interfaith pairs at nonprofit organizations in the US, Canada, the UK, India, and Sierra Leone.  Our goal is to show that despite what the media might tell us, faith can be a force for good in the world.  There is a common call to service in each of the world’s major religions, and our goal is to bring people together across faith lines to take action on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.  We focus primarily on global health and malaria, and create opportunities for people to take action both locally and globally by inviting people to join ONE and raise their voice to fight extreme poverty, volunteer with us through monthly interfaith service projects in DC, and donate money to save lives and fight malaria in Sierra Leone.

3CE: How did you find out about this opportunity?

CW: I found out about this opportunity during my search for a year-long fellowship opportunity during my senior year at LC.  I knew I wanted to find something related to global health and development, and I loved the interfaith action angle.  It was a great opportunity to work with some incredible organizations doing work that I cared about, so I submitted my application in December of last year in anticipation of graduation.  I have admired ONE’s work since I was in high school, so I am definitely enjoying the chance to work here!

3CE: What do value about your L&C liberal arts education now that you’re out there in life beyond college?

CW: I’m finding the breadth of my education to be extremely valuable out here in “life beyond college.”  It is very interesting to see how I can apply what I’ve learned from the variety of classes I took.  On the same day that I draw from something I learned in my SOAN Global Inequalities class, I am also thinking about what I learned about malaria in my Nutrition class, or something from an introductory Economics class.


3CE: Is this an opportunity that other recent graduates can apply for?

CW: Next year they will be recruiting a new cohort, and I would keep it in mind for people interested in interfaith and international development work trying to find a short-term, paid opportunity in the field.  The Faiths Act Fellowship is an especially great way to gain access to some top-level nonprofits that do not have many entry-level positions open, while doing some very engaging work, and you can apply until you are 28 years old.

3CE: What would you tell students, if anything, about 3CE?

CW: The support of 3CE throughout the year helped me get the job! I can’t say I was thrilled to give up a few days of my winter break to participate in the Senior Survival Seminar, but I know that the seminar helped develop my confidence amidst everyone’s complaints about the job market.  3CE also gave me the chance to practice interviewing, which certainly helped when it came time for the real thing!


Read more about Carolyn and visit her blog on the Faiths Act website

Learn more about the Tony Blair Faith Foundation

Apply to be a Faiths Act Fellow for 2012-2013