91制片厂

Chad Cowan will graduate from 91制片厂 Manchester this month. And, armed with practical and cultural experience through an internship at the , he鈥檚 ready for the future.

Cowan, a , began interning at the Turkish Cultural Center New Hampshire (TCCNH) in January as part of his senior project. His main focus throughout the internship has been a water well project in Kenya, which Cowan has essentially helped to manage鈥攆rom making contacts to fundraising. He said the skills he鈥檚 learning at his internship will translate seamlessly into a career.

鈥淚 ideally want to do something with project management,鈥� Cowan said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 talking to people, making calls, making meetings. Interning here has prepared me for that, and for the business world.鈥�

The Turkish Cultural Center New Hampshire is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that advocates for Turkic Americans and promotes cross-cultural awareness through educational and cultural activities. From Turkish coffee nights to community Friendship Dinners, film screenings to visits to Turkic countries, the TCCNH aims to promote respect and understanding among all cultures and faiths.

Lenette Peterson, TCCNH executive assistant and Cowan鈥檚 supervisor, said the organization exposes interns like Cowan to a new culture.

鈥淢ost New England kids only know New England, and anything outside of that can seem scary,鈥� Peterson said. 鈥淭his forces you out into the community鈥攁nd Manchester is a diverse community. It鈥檚 good to get them out of their comfort zone.鈥�

The TCCNH supports charity and relief efforts for more than just Turkic Americans鈥攅ndeavors like Cowan鈥檚 water well project demonstrate the scope of involvement. In partnership with the humanitarian aid group , the TTCNH鈥檚 latest efforts bring fresh water to areas that don鈥檛 have access to it.

Peterson said they began this project last fall with a well in Uganda dedicated to the memory of James Foley, the New Hampshire-raised journalist who was killed by the terrorist group ISIS last summer. She said the project was an overwhelming success, and a lasting tribute to Foley鈥檚 memory.

鈥淭he well brought water to thousands of people that had to walk, I think, five miles to get water,鈥� Peterson said. 鈥淎nd every time they get water, they see James鈥� name.鈥�

Cowan said his involvement with African well projects and local Turkic events has really opened his eyes to the need for cultural acceptance and understanding on a global scale.

鈥淲hat has really solidified through this internship is that people aren鈥檛 that different,鈥� Cowan said. 鈥淲e have different traditions and customs, but that doesn鈥檛 make us that different. We can all get along.鈥�

After graduating from , Cowan decided to pursue civil engineering at 91制片厂鈥檚 Durham campus. Cowan said he was sitting in a math class his sophomore year when he realized, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to do this at all.鈥�

Cowan said he was always interested in world issues and how the government works, so he was drawn to the at 91制片厂 Manchester. With renewed focus, Cowan enrolled.

鈥淚 originally chose Politics & Society to get more educated in world issues,鈥� Cowan said. 鈥淏ut then kind of developed by own sense of the world.鈥�

Cowan said his internship at TCCNH not only developed practical skills鈥攍ike overcoming his 鈥減hone phobia鈥濃�攂ut also cross-cultural skills, heightening his awareness and understanding of diversity. Skills, he said, that he鈥檒l carry throughout his personal and professional life.

Students interested in interning at the TCCNH or other local organizations should visit the , or contact the team at 603-641-4394 or unhm.career@unh.edu.