Hi!

My name is Weronika Kosior and I'm from Poland. I'm a 19 year old graduate of Mahindra United World College in India – a unique institution that brings together youth from all over the world to build and promote intercultural understanding and use education as a force “for peace and sustainable future”.  Currently I’m a first year at Sarah Lawrence College. Due to the interdisciplinary character of my college I have a chance to combine my architectural studies with environmental design and computing. Recently I’m interested primarily in the way interactive architecture technologies can contribute to sustainability and self-sufficiency of a building or of an urban environment.

Practical experience has always been an essential part of my education. I have been engaged in a variety of community service activities both in Poland and India, internships and volunteer programs, for example:

• volunteer work at Children Hospice, Opole, Poland (2010-2011)
• coordination of “Art for Kids” activity in a village near Pune, India (2011-2013)
• internship at architectural company APA Kuryłowicz, Warsaw, Poland (summer 2012)
• internship at EPA initiative Groundwork Hudson Valley, Yonkers, USA (fall 2013)
• assisting with the construction of a school made of bottles, soil and tires at Long Way Home NGO, Guatemala
• internship at Christina Griffin Architects, Hastings on Hudson, USA (currently)

and many more.

above: the school i was working on during my winter break

Recently I got accepted to an intensive one-week spring break environmental sustainability program EcoPracticum in New York City. In the program “participants explore the ecological infrastructure of New York City, focusing on food, energy, and resource management. Each day includes hands-on work on an urban farm; meetings with experts, activists, and policy makers; and thoughtful discussions facilitated by skilled, democratic educators. “

MORE INFORMATION: http://www.ecopracticum.com/

This enriching experience is everything a young architecture student can ask for. Unfortunately due the program's cost many ambitious students, including me, can't participate in this wonderful opportunity.

United World Colleges encourage their students to leave behind their comfort zones and take responsibility for their future and positive social change. I don't agree with the fact that so many talented young individuals, especially coming from poorer countries, have restricted access to fantastic educational opportunities solely because of finances. In the future I would like to use my interdisciplinary learning experience to improve the current situation of limited resources and narrow range of additional educational opportunities, especially for low-income international students.

Thank you for all contribution!