Zambia RPCV Karla Berg returned home to the United States to spend her summer break on a one-woman cross-country tour of rural America. Her goal: to interview as many small town residents as possible on their definition of peace.
Combining wanderlust with a desire to serve
"By looking at cultures in peace . . . maybe other countries will be able to fashion a version that works for them."
Caption: During her stint as a Peace Corps volunteer leader, Karla Berg dances with a child in a village in Zambia.
Summer road trips are not uncommon among students home from university. But Rotary World Peace Scholar Karla Berg is not your typical university student, so it follows that her summer vacation would be anything but common. Having spent nearly the past five years abroad in various academic and humanitarian pursuits, Berg returned home to the United States to spend her summer break on a one-woman cross-country tour of rural America. Her goal: to interview as many small town residents as possible on their definition of peace.
Berg plans to conduct a similar research project in France, compare the results from both studies, and combine the information into a format that countries in post-conflict situations can use to help "build a culture of peace."
"My idea is to show that there are many versions [of peace]," explains Berg, who is studying at the Rotary Center for International Studies at Sciences Po in Paris. "By looking at cultures in peace, particularly from the local perspective, maybe other countries will be able to fashion a version that works for them."
Although scholars are expected to spend their summer breaks involved in activities related to their studies, Berg's project reflects her life-long love of travel and interest in international affairs. Since her first trip at the age of 13 to her grandfather's native Norway, Berg has been combining these two passions. And she has taken full advantage of Rotary's programs to do so, having been both a Youth Exchange student and a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar before being selected to join the first class of Rotary World Peace Scholars.
In all, Berg has lived in France, Belgium, Africa, and Australia - pretty impressive for a 29-year-old from a small town in northern Minnesota, USA. Yet, it is just this small town upbringing and the active Rotary club in her hometown of Walker that Berg credits for her spirit of adventure.
"The club is amazingly active for the size of its membership and the size of the town," says Berg. "Every year, without fail, they have hosted a Youth Exchange student, so I grew up in an environment where I was constantly meeting a new person
from a different culture. It piqued my curiosity."
That curiosity, coupled with a desire to make a difference, would lead Berg on adventures around the globe. One of her first trips was as a Youth Exchange student to Melle, France, where she spent a year immersed in the French language and culture that until then she had only experienced in books and high school classes. "I went from small town America to small town France," says Berg. "It was a wonderful experience."
She returned to the United States fluent in French and certain of her desire to become a global citizen - a desire that grew stronger during her years as an undergraduate student at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, USA. There, Berg found herself constantly drawn to the stories of the international students, particularly those from war-torn countries in Eastern Europe. "I began to wonder how I might use my interest in communication and French to help prevent such conflicts," she says.
When Berg learned of the Ambassadorial Scholarships, she realized once again that Rotary could help her realize these ambitions. "I was excited to discover that Rotary offered an Ambassadorial Scholarship," says Berg. "The scholarship allowed me to pursue my studies abroad, while being affiliated with an organization dedicated to improving global relations."
Berg spent a year studying at the University of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, where she took courses in political science and international relations. Yet it was her time spent living at the International House, a residential facility made up of an equal mix of international and Australian students, where she saw firsthand the effect communication has on international relations.
"The ability to recognize differing viewpoints was crucial [to getting along]," says Berg. "We were constantly learning about each other's cultures and how to build cultural bridges."
This education would be valuable during her next adventure to Zambia, where Berg spent three-and-a-half years as a Peace Corps volunteer. She was responsible for helping to create yearly health plans that could be easily understood and implemented by village leaders. Her challenge was to effectively communicate the importance of health education to people whose first priority is feeding their families.
"Health touches everything," says Berg. "Even farming can be related to health. Soy has the highest protein value of any food. By planting soybeans and incorporating them into their diet, it can really change the lives of people."
Before returning to Africa to spend her last year as a Peace Corps volunteer leader, Berg was contacted by her mentor, Past District Governor Hanspeter Borgwarth, a member of the Rotary Club of Brainerd, Minnesota, USA. Borgwarth urged her to apply for the Rotary World Peace Scholarship. This past June, Berg completed her first year of study at Sciences Po in Paris, France, one of the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution. "The idea behind the centers is fantastic," she says. "I'm so impressed with Rotary's dedication and vision for the future."
Not surprisingly, Berg's own future involves plans for a career in the international spectrum, either with the U.S. Foreign Service, the United Nations, or in development. Wherever Berg ends up, however, she is certain to make a difference.
As Berg wrote in her Rotary World Peace Scholarship application, "One person may not be able to solve all the problems that plague our world, but one person can make a positive difference. I want to do precisely that."
