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Date: March 12, 1999
Princeton Senior Wins Labouisse Fellowship Award
Will Conduct Research in South Africa
PRINCETON, N.J. -- Calvin William Christopher, a member of Princeton University's Class of 1999, was recently awarded the Henry Richardson Labouisse '26 Fellowship for 1999-2000. The award will allow Christopher to travel to Cape Town, South Africa to pursue his project: "Bridging the Gap: Community Development and Education in South Africa." Beginning in the summer and lasting almost one year, he will study the potential for introducing community involvement into local schools to foster an improved educational environment.
Christopher's project stemmed from his 1998 study abroad experience at the University of Cape Town. He participated in an undergraduate research project on education in South Africa, exploring issues facing black schools such as teacher shortages, lack of resources and high crime rates. In the course of his research, he worked with teachers, counselors, administrative personnel and local business leaders. "As I was getting to know the nature of the issues and problems in the classroom and in community involvement in the schools, I realized I needed to do more extensive and in-depth research," says Christopher.
"Bridging the Gap" will focus on three policy goals, according to Christopher: Increasing parental and community involvement in education; supporting coordination and cooperation between schools and local businesses and non-governmental organizations; and integrating schools into broader community development initiatives. "South Africa is an exciting place to be right now," says Christopher. "They are creating their society fresh and there is a spirit of enthusiasm for creating solutions."
In addition to the Labouisse-supported research, Christopher plans to pursue graduate-level studies at the Center for African Studies at the University of Cape Town. His interests include continued study of Xhosa, the predominant African language of the Cape, which he views as "useful in conducting the interview and survey phases of my research as well as increasing my ability to access the Guguletu community." Christopher is majoring in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and will receive a certificate in East Asian Studies. He has lived and studied in China and Japan and plans a career in international development.
The Labouisse Fellowship, established in 1987, honors the memory of Henry Richardson Labouisse '26, a State Department and United Nations official who headed Unicef from 1965 to 1979. Labouisse played a key role in setting up the Marshall Plan operations in postwar Europe, was appointed the director of the International Cooperation Administration in 1961 under the Kennedy administration, and served as ambassador to Greece from 1962 to 1965.
According to the fellowship précis, the award honor is given "annually to a graduating Princeton senior who wishes to work or study abroad on matters in keeping with the spirit of Labouisse's life, broadly conceived." The winner must present a record of outstanding academic achievement, reflecting intellectually serious interest in problems of less-developed areas; demonstrate qualities of moral and intellectual leadership; and intend to pursue a career, either public or voluntary, that is devoted to the problems of deprived populations. Winners have traveled to Africa, Latin America and Asia, exploring a variety of topics, from rural development strategies in Jamaica to healthcare programs in rural areas of Zimbabwe. Christopher is the 16th winner of the award.