International Leadership: India

Hello all! My name is Ilora Majumder-Afzal, and I am one of the teachers helping to lead the trip to Dharamsala, India. I am so excited to be part of this valuable experience! I am a 12th Grade Government/Economics Teacher at the Henry Street School for International Studies, but I also teach Human Rights, Model United Nations, and am heavily involved in organizing our seniors' activities such as yearbook, prom, and senior trip. Just a little bit about myself: I am originally from Canada, but I've been living in New York City for 5 years now. My parents are from India, so I have some strong ties to the country and am looking forward to learning and sharing with all of you! My education is in Political Science and International Relations, so I am happy to bring a political flavor to this trip. Can't wait to meet you!

Posted by Global LAB at 2:27 PM | Permalink

Hi, I’m Adam Branson - a high school teacher at the Henry Street School for International Studies. I’m excited about the cultural immersion opportunity we have in Dharamsala and would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I grew up in a small Florida town, spending my childhood playing outside, camping as a Boy Scout, swimming in lakes and working as a lifeguard. My passion for photography lead me to New York, where I earned my BFA at the School of Visual Arts. I spent four summers working with the Fresh Air Fund as a counselor, lifeguard, and waterfront director.

In 2007 I traveled to Uganda in East Africa where I volunteered as an English and math teacher at a secondary school in a village called Ntenjeru. In addition to teaching, I collaborated with friends at a local NGO for a number of service projects, including Malaria prevention and HIV/AIDS education.

As a teacher, I spend most of my holidays traveling. Recently I’ve been blessed to spend time in Costa Rica, Spain, and Bahrain. I live with my dog, Buddy in Manhattan and attend graduate school at City College. You can see some of my photography at www.adambranson.com

Posted by Global LAB at 6:01 PM | Permalink

Hello Everyone!

As Director of Global LAB's India Programs, I am excited to be working with our NYC high school students, both during our 4 orientation sessions here in NYC and during our adventures together while exploring India. Having led Global LAB's India Semester program, I know that the students will have an incredible experience. This is truly a program of a lifetime!

Here is a little bit more about me…

In the words of Edmund King:

“The key for me is always putting myself in the position of being a foreigner. What I mean by that is forcing myself to question my beliefs and the framework of how I live my life.”

While these words belong to someone else, they illustrate how I live my life both personally and professionally. I believe that one must be willing to remove oneself from the safety and security of one’s own natural environment to truly discover one’s place in this world. Experiencing and savoring other cultures is an unparalleled path to personal growth and discovery. I am privileged to be able to journey down this path with you.

I was born and raised in New York City and have been fortunate to experience places near and far. I spent four years at University of Wisconsin-Madison for my undergraduate education, studied abroad in Australia, lived in Vermont while obtaining my Masters in International Education from the SIT Graduate Institute, and spent some time in San Francisco taking a life coach training course. I have led international educational exchange programs to Belize, New Zealand, Kenya, Costa Rica, and visited 10 countries on an around-the-world college semester program. My thesis, The American Gap Year, examined the Gap Year trend in America from college admissions advisors' perspectives and I have presented this research globally. While I was managing UNICEF’s personal and professional development program for staff members and their families, I facilitated trainings in 5 Latin American countries. All in all, I have been to every continent except for Antarctica!

Congratulations to the students for choosing the road less traveled. I look forward to getting to know you over the next few months as we prepare for our journey to India.

All the best,

Deb

Posted by Global LAB at 6:06 PM | Permalink

Hi! My name is Bob Lesser and I am responsible for coordinating the International Leadership Program for Replications, Inc. Before joining the Replications team, I led international experiential education programs for American students in Asia. I have a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Vassar College. I'm a native New Yorker and a proud product of New York City public schools. I'm sure this is going to be a life changing experience for everyone and I'm so excited to be a part of it!

Posted by Global LAB at 6:16 PM | Permalink