Camilla Jamal Receives P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education Grant
Congratulations are in order for international studies master’s student Fartun “Camilla” Jamal, who has been awarded a grant from the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education for spring 2019! This program, established in 1973, provides one-time financial assistance to women whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to complete a degree or certification that improves their marketable skills for employment to support themselves and/or their families.
Camilla, born in Somalia, came to the U.S. after living in Kenya and Malaysia and visiting other countries. After receiving her B.A. in global studies in 2013 from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, she began working with the African/Asian communities, particularly refugee/asylee single mothers and children from and female survivors of domestic abuse, in Fargo, North Dakota. She then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she served as the community liaison between the Somali refugee community at Lyndale Neighborhood Association/Whittier Alliance organizations and the Minneapolis Police Department at the Fifth Precinct in order to break the communication barriers. During this time, she helped the women of this community secure job placement, gain access to education, and develop leadership skills.
Despite the emotional toll that this work can take, Camilla is determined to give back. As part of her master’s program, she hopes to intern (and eventually get a job) with the United Nations, UNESCO, or other international organizations, for more experience at the global level. Her post-graduation goal is to help women, particularly single mothers and orphan children, gain access to the education that she feels lucky to receive. With this work, she will also be honoring her beloved mother, who shaped Camilla’s view on education before her death. Her last message was: “education is a powerful tool that will open more doors for you than you can imagine. I was not given any educational opportunity when I was young. Therefore, never ever take it for granted.”
Over the years, Camilla has also learned how determination and support from others, including Dr. Andrea Hilkovitz in The Graduate College, can play a huge role in her success. After a few setbacks, she persevered in securing a sponsorship with P.E.O. Chapter IV, New Braunfels, in fall 2018. Not only did she successfully receive the grant, but Camilla also opened doors for future Texas State students in San Marcos applying for this award by creating a relationship with the New Braunfels chapter.
She appreciates deeply and gives credit to Dr. Hilkovitz in part for earning this award: “Andrea was incredibly supportive and kept pushing me to apply for this grant. She even reached out to the organization on my behalf to clarify a discrepancy and move my application forward.” Dr. Hilkovitz in turn credits Camilla’s perseverance in the pursuit of funding for her eventual award: “Many students would have become discouraged or given up their search for funding in the face of the setbacks she encountered. Camilla’s ability to push forward and maintain a positive attitude are remarkable and, hopefully, can inspire other students to ‘stick with it’ in their own funding searches.”
Congratulations once again to Camilla on her achievement!