Q & A with Veronika

Role:Summer 2011 Community Outreach Intern
Nationality:Czech
Where You Live:Here and there, I like to call myself citizen of the world.
Star Sign:Aries
Likes:The wind in my hair when riding my bike down the hill, smell of blooming cherry tree in my garden
Dislikes:People who don’t care about others, advertisements that make you buy useless things.
Strengths:Empathy, being a diplomat, seeing behind things, good listener, getting things started and also done.
Weaknesses:Time management
Odd Thought:What would I do if the world was about to end?
Most Anticipated Part of the Journey:Meeting so many wonderful people!
Favorite Creature:King Julian from Madagascar movie
Must Have Item to Take to Panama:A little yellow teddy bird. A symbol of me and my friends .

Personal & Professional

Background

I think people just have to try harder. The state of mind as well as state of the entire world is just a consequence of individual decisions.

Motto:

Let not the despair of reality separate you from the dreams of your aspiration.

Biography - Veronika Jemelikova

Veronika is a student of security studies coming from the heart of Europe, beautiful Czech Republic. She has recently spent over fourteen months working on development and reconstruction in Afghanistan. This experience broadened her horizons and brought to her an absolutely different insight on the world. She is passionate about human rights and development. She will graduate next year with MA, and in her research she focuses on development as prevention in conflict prone countries and post-conflict reconstruction. She tries to find strategies that actually work and can help people suffering from violence and lack of perspective in their future. Afghanistan was enriching but also a very frustrating experience and so Veronika has decided to trade the danger of the beautiful mountainous country for the calmer, but no less stunning Panama. Kalu Yala is a great opportunity for Veronika to implement her experience from developing countries without having to wear body armor. Her love for travel and discovery seems never-ending, and the more passionate she is about leaving, the more excited she is when she comes back home again. Even though she has lived through some tough experiences, she never stops being an optimist and with smile on her face reminds others not to forget the good things that are out there.