New World Outlook - Summer 2017 - Open - 21

New World Outlook

World Communion Scholar Kenia Guimaraes attends a humanitarian conference in Berlin in
October 2015. She is pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at the French School of
Public Health(EHESP) in Paris, France.
PHOTO: COURTESY KENIA GUIMARAES

"I moved from Brazil to the United States to attend college and graduate
school," said Guimaraes. "I attended Rust College for undergraduate work and
Clark Atlanta University for graduate school, both United Methodist schools."
For Guimaraes, being Methodist means practicing Wesleyan traditions and
embracing the world as her parish. She got involved in numerous United
Methodist organizations throughout her time in the United States, including
the United Methodist Student Movement (UMSM) through the General Board
of Higher Education (GBHEM); Global Justice Volunteers with the General
Board of Global Ministries (GBGM); the Young Adult Internship Program at
General Board of Church and Society (GBCS); and the Black College Fund
Ambassadors. "I was also part of a United Methodist Women's College and
University Consultative group," Guirmaraes added.
Public health, as Guimaraes explains it, is the science that studies and
analyzes the population's health, prevents disease, works to improve quality
of life, and promotes healthy living. Guimaraes' work concentrates on global
and maternal and child health. She is currently in the process of writing her
master's thesis and is conducting research on migration and health.
As she advances in her studies, Guimaraes hopes to collaborate with organizations to advocate and improve the overall quality of health and education for all people, especially in developing countries, where mortality rates
are high and life expectancy is low.
"People are escaping wars, terrorism, natural disasters, and famine. When
their health systems collapse, they turn to organization such as Action Against
Hunger, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the World Health Organization

SUMMER 2017

(WHO), Oxfam, the United Methodist
Committee on Relief (UMCOR),
Doctors without Borders, and many
others," said Guimaraes.
Working with immigrants and refugees, especially women and children, is one of her many passions.
"I have been an immigrant in countries that I've lived in, traveled to, and
worked in," said Guimaraes.
"Because of current global humanitarian crises, the number of immigrants and refugees continues to
grow. Women and children, especially, encounter violence along the way."
Guimaraes says she is thankful for the scholarships Global
Ministries has awarded her.
For Guimaraes, public health is
more than a career path, it's a calling.
"My faith shaped me to become
who I am today, leading me to understand the calling to serve God
by serving God's people, embracing
the need to transform my faith into
action," concluded Guimaraes.

Elevating Women

Ayra Indrias was born in Rawalpindi,
Pakistan, to a humble family. She is
currently a Ph.D. student in Gender
Studies at Punjab University in
Lahore, Pakistan.
"When I was in seventh or eighth
grade, I used to question why I, along
with my brown skinned friends, was
never selected to perform in our
Christmas plays," said Indrias.
According to Indrias, her teacher
said that fair-skinned students were
given preference for the roles "in
order to make the show beautiful."
"This argument never sat well with
me," admitted Indrias. "I felt it was
insulting and I used to cry and ask my
mother to insist on a role for me."

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of New World Outlook - Summer 2017 - Open