Super Alum Interview – Zuha Moin!

1. WHAT are you doing currently and WHY did you chose to do it after the Fellowship?

I am currently a graduate student at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington D.C., where I am studying International Affairs & International Economics. Much of my focus in graduate school is on development policies and social initiatives particularly related to the South Asia region. Since I have my bachelors in development and economics, I wanted to have a strong South Asia regional focus in development especially already having had great experience with the depth of issues relating to the education system in India.

For my summer internship, I am currently interning with the US government on their education initiatives in developing countries. It’s not only India that is struggling with its education system – many other countries have similar issues to that of the Indian education system. As a career, I hope to continue in education policy and reform in developing countries.

2. How is Fellowship experience helping you in your current role?

The fellowship experience has been incredible. In the United States, not many people have experience working directly in a government school in a developing country. At SAIS, I have been so lucky to have colleagues from various Teach for All programs (Teach for America, Teach for China, Teach for Pakistan) in my classes. Teach for India has provided me the realities of the education system and in a way my coursework is being reinforced through me experience at TFI.

3. If given a chance to do the Fellowship again, what would you do differently?

I think one thing I have noticed that I took for granted is investing in parents. Before leaving India, the parents presented us with so many gifts and after school lunches, which we know they struggled to come up with. Now, when I call up the students, I can feel the pride and joy from the parents, who were once not interested in their child’s education, about their child’s successes in the classroom. I really wished I could have invested in some kind of program that provided some long-term benefits to the parents (i.e. a financial awareness program, birth certificate registration drive).

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When she is not busy ensuring every child has an excellent education, Zuha can be found practicing yoga, learning how to cook Hyderabadi food, or planning her next international escapade. Zuha is from New York and currently resides in Washington, DC.You may contact her at: zuha.moin2012@teachforindia.org