Over the past five years, Queen’s alumna Jennifer Langill (Artsci’15) has crossed the globe several times, moving back and forth between Canada and Laos. A brief volunteering trip took her to Laos in 2010, and ever since, she’s felt a pull to the country, and to helping families and individuals there achieve financial stability and longevity.

“Many people ask me what made me fall in love with Laos and what makes me keep going back to do development work there,” says Ms. Langill, who is working in a small village in Laos’ northern central region at the moment, on an OceanPath Fellowship offered through Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC).

“It wasn’t just one thing – it was a huge accumulation of experiences, with locals and the lifestyle. I also felt very passionate about development, and working with a more sustainable, long-term approach.”

The OceanPath Fellowship has been very important in that respect. Offered by the Coady International Institute, and formerly called the Pathy Family Foundation Fellowship, OceanPath provides funding to graduating students to pursue a project that fosters sustainable and positive social change in communities in Canada and around the world.

“This fellowship allows me to do the work I believe in, in a manner I believe in,” says Ms. Langill, who majored in Global Development Studies (DEVS) and earned the International Studies Certificate through the International Programs Office at Queen’s.

“I’ve learned through my time spent overseas that so much development work is rushed and about finding one answer for all, and I’ve never believed that. I think each individual, family or group has its own circumstances and goals, and I try to bring that philosophy to the work I’m doing in Laos.”

Every day is different for Ms. Langill, who recognized during earlier trips the seasonal nature of the locals’ work in the rice fields. Ultimately, she spends her days meeting with families and individuals, cultivating relationships and trust so she can help them plan their finances, develop goals – whether it be increasing farming yields or starting a family business – and save for the things that are most important to them. Ms. Langill is able to offer interest-free loans, and she works with the various participants at all stages to support their projects and repayment.

“It’s amazing what you see in a relatively short period of time. I began this fellowship in September and in a few short months, the people I’m working with have become much more financially aware. Each person is so different and I customize the work to where each person is at, often asking, what are you working towards?”

Working overseas can feel daunting at times, but Ms. Langill says she’s benefitted from early travel experiences. She first went on exchange alone in Grade 9 to Australia, and has kept going abroad since. During her degree at Queen’s, she spent many months in Laos, including summers. Independent research she conducted while in Laos formed the basis of her DEVS undergraduate thesis.

“I learned to travel and be alone very early, and those experiences gave me the context I needed to do this kind of work in Laos,” she says.

That said, she encourages other students to apply for the OceanPath Fellowship, whether they have a lot of international experience or just a little. QUIC staff member Cathy Lemmon feels the same way.

“If students have a great idea and a connection to a community, then it doesn’t matter so much how much time they’ve spent abroad. More important is their enthusiasm and desire to make a difference,” says Ms. Lemmon, International Programs Adviser, QUIC.

For more information, visit QUIC’s website for the OceanPath Fellowship.

The deadline for applications is Jan. 7. Information on funding and scholarships to study abroad is available here.