RESEARCH FELLOW
KAREN CASPA recently earned a Master's degree in Public Administration from the American University in Washington, D.C. Karen has made many valuable contributions to EOTM’s mission. Her experiences living abroad have given her a critical understanding of the importance of intercultural communications as they pertain to international organizations. Karen’s organizational and communication skills have enabled her to do everything from fundraising to writing inquiries on immigration status and procedures of EOTM Fellows who wish to pursue graduate studies in the United States.
Wheelbarrow Kids Initiative for Economic Literacy
Wheelbarrow Kids Initiative in Northeast Nigeria, where some 70 percent of the population lives on less than $2 per day. This project aims to break the 'cycle of poverty' for 20 Nigerian youths who earn money to support their families by hauling customers' grocery items in wheelbarrows. In addition to buying school supplies, school fees, and uniforms for participants, EOTM’s Wheelbarrow Kids initiative teaches economic literacy and prepares youths to be entrepreneurs. Karen has played a vital role in sustaining the Wheelbarrow Kids Initiative by helping manage and coordinate campaign donations from around the world.
2022 Career Planning Workshop & Seminar
In the fall of 2022, EOTM invited Karen to be a guest speaker in the 2022 Career Planning Workshop & Seminar, which featured past and present EOTM Fellows from China, Nigeria, and the USA. Karen shared her career planning strategies and advice on how to learn interpersonal communications, time management, problem solving, teamwork and other soft skills from temporary employment in low-skill service occupations.