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PAUL A. NYIBEK
CANADA
Sponsored by: The Rotary Club of Edmonton Mayfield, District 5370, CANADA
Country of Citizenship: Canada
Language proficiency: English, Arabic, Shilluk, Dinka and Nuer. Basic German.
Academic Experience : MA in International Relations and Comparative Politics (expected to obtain in August) – University of Alberta. B.A. with Honors in Political Science, Certificate in Peace & Post-Conflict Studies, and Certificate in Globalization & Governance – University of Alberta. Diploma in Business Administration & Accounting – the Commercial Technical Institute-Roda, Cairo, Egypt . Awarded Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, University of Alberta Undergraduate Scholarship, and A H Earl Joudrie Scholarship in 2009 and 2010 . Recipient of the Government of Alberta and the University of Alberta scholarships for the Washington Center for Internships & Academic Seminars in 2009.
Areas of interest: include, but are not limited to, the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) on which he wrote his undergraduate thesis, Critical IR, Security Studies, International Humanitarian Law, Resources Development, Human Rights and Environment, and Peace and Conflict Resolution.
Background: Nyibek is a scholar, a human right advocate, and a community organizer with intense commitment to global politics and peace and security issues. This commitment stems from his personal story and background. He has seen firsthand the dire consequences of lack of security and peace growing up in South Sudan. Many people were fleeing their homes due to the violent conflict when the lives of a ferryman and family of three whose boat had capsized while crossing the river depended on his swift action. Audaciously, he rose to the challenge despite the fact that he was just a child. This incident shaped his life and accounted for his long-time fascination with politics and war and peace issues. At an early age, he took part in activities such as student council, publishing wall newspapers, protesting against the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and the policies of the Sudanese regime. These activities did help him to develop a sense of concern for social and global issues and a genuine desire to be an agent of peace. At the age of 15, he left his home and family, and fled to Egypt, to escape the draconian policies of compulsory military service. In Cairo he developed leadership capabilities through student government, community organizing and political activism before moving to Canada in October 1997. Nyibek has more than eight years experience working with children and youth. He cofounded the African Cultural Society in Cairo, Egypt in mid-1990s which role was to provide health awareness about diseases such as HIV/AIDS to southern Sudanese refugees in Egypt. Besides being a full-time postgraduate student, Nyibek is also a Youth Facilitator (African Youth Leadership Program) with the University of Calgary (Faculty of Social Work) and Africa Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.
What do you plan to do with your RWPF: Pursue a career aspiring to foster advanced research and practical field experience in areas of peace and conflict resolution. The RWPF offers an indispensable knowledge in these areas which are imperative for the advancement of a culture of peace and tolerance whether in the academia, government or NGOs.