My name is Jesurasa Shanujan. I am a final-year undergraduate at Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, specializing in Indigenous Social Sciences and Management Studies. I come from the Northern Province of Sri Lanka and have always been passionate about social inclusion, development, and intercultural understanding. As a Global UGRAD Scholar, I had the opportunity to study in the United States, which broadened my global perspective and strengthened my commitment to grassroots and community-centered work.

My motivation stemmed from the unique focus of the program blending social science, indigenous knowledge, and management perspectives. I wanted to pursue a degree that went beyond conventional theory and rooted learning in local realities, cultural understanding, and community resilience. The program at GWUIM offered exactly that a chance to learn in a contextually relevant, socially responsible environment.

This course has been intellectually enriching and practically empowering. It has helped me critically understand issues such as marginalization, sustainable development, reconciliation, and governance, all within an indigenous and local context. The interdisciplinary nature of the course has given me both analytical skills and applied tools for fieldwork, research, and project implementation.

The guidance I’ve received from the academic staff has been incredibly supportive and personalized. Lecturers not only provide academic mentorship but also encourage participation in research, social projects, and real-world initiatives. Their encouragement played a key role in helping me apply for international scholarships and internship opportunities.

FISSMS has shaped my identity as a socially conscious scholar and practitioner. It’s a space where critical thinking meets compassion, and where local realities are respected alongside global knowledge. The environment is collaborative and encourages both academic and personal growth, preparing us to face diverse challenges in the development sector.

Yes, I’ve been actively engaged in a wide range of extracurricular activities that have significantly shaped my academic, personal, and professional journey.

One of the most transformative experiences was being selected as a Global UGRAD Scholar by the U.S. Department of State. Through this fully funded exchange program, I studied at Bluefield State University in West Virginia, where I not only took academic courses but also immersed myself in cross-cultural exchange, volunteer work, and campus life. I served as an intern with the International Student Organization, where I helped coordinate multicultural events, interviewed international students for publications, and presented Sri Lankan culture to American high schoolers. This experience strengthened my leadership, global communication, and adaptability in diverse environments.

In Sri Lanka, I completed an internship with GIZ’s Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Unit, where I contributed to reconciliation-focused programs, helped with stakeholder engagement, and supported research and field documentation. Additionally, I worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Justice on a digitization project, where I assisted with secure data management and collaborated with government stakeholders to streamline administrative records.

I’ve also participated in organizing and leading cultural events such as Avurudu, Diwali, Iftar & Ramadan, and Christmas celebrations at the university level. These events taught me how to work with diverse teams, appreciate different cultural values, and promote inclusion and unity.

Altogether, these extracurricular, internship, and international experiences have taught me to lead with empathy, communicate across cultures, and work effectively on social impact projects. They’ve also deepened my passion for empowering underrepresented communities and using research and fieldwork to bring about meaningful change.