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- Creators: Department of Finance
- Creators: Smith, Sharon
- Resource Type: Text
abroad participation nationally and at Arizona State University (ASU). The ASU and
International Studies Abroad (ISA) Planning Scholars Scholarship Program was
developed to support first-generation college students in their pursuit of study abroad.
This mixed-methods study examined what the specific needs of first-generation college
students are as they pursue study abroad experiences and what effect the ASU and ISA
Planning Scholars Program had on them. A combination of surveys, semi-structured
interviews, and a photovoice project provided data for the study. Key findings included
that first-generation college students had concerns about finances, finding a study abroad
program that would keep them on track for graduation, making friends while they study
abroad, and traveling abroad alone. The study indicated that the Planning Scholars
program did increase students’ confidence in pursuing study abroad. Additionally, the
theory of First-Generation Strength was developed which suggests that first-generation
college students possess certain strengths and capital that help them overcome a variety
of new obstacles and make them an ideal candidate for study abroad due to their
experiences with having to navigate new contexts, such as going to college,
independently.
Waste pickers are the victims of harsh economic and social factors that have hurt many developing countries and billions of people around the world. Due to the rise of industrialization since the 19th century, waste and disposable resources have been discarded around the world to provide more resources, products, and services to wealthy countries. This has put developing countries in a precarious position where people have had very few economic opportunities besides taking on the role of waste pickers, who not only face physical health consequences due to the work they do but also face exclusion from society due to the negative views of waste pickers. Many people view waste pickers as scavengers and people who survive off of doing dirty work, which creates tensions between waste pickers and others in society. This even leads to many countries outlawing waste picking and has led to the brutal treatment of waste pickers throughout the world and has even led to thousands of waste pickers being killed by anti-waste picker groups and law enforcement organizations in many countries. <br/> Waste pickers are often at the bottom of supply-chains as they take resources that have been used and discarded, and provide them to recyclers, waste management organizations, and others who are able to turn these resources into usable materials again. Waste pickers do not have many opportunities to rise above the situation they are in as waste picking has become the only option for many people who need to provide for themselves and their families. They are not compensated very well for the work they do, which also contributes to the situation where waste pickers are forced into a position of severe health risks, backlash from society and governments, not being able to seek better opportunities due to a lack of earning potential, and not being connected with end-users. Now is the time to create new business models that solve these large problems in our global society and create a sustainable way to ensure that waste pickers are treated properly around the world.