From Houston to Bolivia: Rice University Loewenstern Fellows (2026)

Ramya Motati (Rice University, Class of 2027, Biochemistry & Sociology):

Hello! My name is Ramya Motati, and I was honored to serve as a 2026 Loewenstern Fellow with World Peaces from June through August. During my two months at Villa Connie, I had the opportunity to participate in a wide range of community projects while getting to know the incredible people of Marquina. I wanted to share a few reflections on my experience so that future volunteers and students can better understand the meaningful work World Peaces is doing alongside the community.

Before arriving in Bolivia, I was both excited and nervous. This was my first time living abroad for an extended period outside of the United States and India, where my family is from. I was drawn to World Peaces because of its commitment to community health, environmental sustainability, and food security, which are areas that closely align with my academic interests and long-term goals. While I had previously studied many of these topics in the classroom and through research, living and working within the community gave me a much deeper appreciation for how these issues intersect with everyday life.

Over the course of the fellowship, I learned a great deal about the community, cross-cultural collaboration, and myself. While there are many experiences I will carry with me, I would like to highlight two that most profoundly shaped my perspective.

The first experience I would like to highlight was a community project I worked on with Isa, a beloved member of Marquina. Together, we conducted brief household surveys with families connected to the Foundation. During our home visits, we also worked alongside families to discuss maintaining their home gardens and the importance of incorporating a variety of vegetables into their diets. These conversations reinforced for me that meaningful community health efforts begin with listening, building trust, and working in partnership with community members.

Beyond the individual projects I participated in, one of the most meaningful aspects of this fellowship was simply being part of the community. Living alongside the people of Marquina allowed me to build genuine relationships and gain a deeper understanding of their daily lives, traditions, and resilience. Those friendships shaped my experience just as much as the service projects themselves. I learned not only about the community, but also about myself, and I will always be grateful for the kindness and generosity I experienced during my time there. I look forward to staying in touch with the friends I made throughout the fellowship.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my experience. I hope these reflections offer a glimpse into the meaningful work of World Peaces and the lasting impact this fellowship has had on me.

Andrea Torres (Rice University, Class of 2028, Business & Psychology):

Hi there! My name is Andrea Torres, and I had the privilege of serving as a 2026 Loewenstern Fellow with World Peaces, locally known as Fundacion Ayllu, from June through July at Villa Connie in Marquina, Bolivia. During my fellowship, I worked on projects centered around community research, education, and economic opportunity while building meaningful relationships with the people who make Marquina such a remarkable place. Looking back, I realize that the most valuable part of this experience wasn't simply the work I completed– it was the opportunity to understand how lasting change begins by listening to a community before trying to serve it.

As a Psychology and Business Finance student at Rice University, I have always been interested in the ways human behavior, education, and economic opportunity influence one another. Much of what I had learned came from coursework, research, and leadership experiences, but this fellowship gave me the chance to apply those ideas in a completely different environment. Rather than viewing community development through statistics or case studies, I experienced it through conversations with families, collaboration with local leaders, and the everyday realities of the people I met.

One of the most impactful aspects of my fellowship was helping gather information about the socioeconomic opportunities and challenges within the community. Through conversations and interviews with community members, I learned about their goals, daily experiences, and the barriers they face in pursuing education, employment, and financial stability. These interactions taught me that data becomes meaningful only when it reflects the voices and experiences of the people behind it. They also reinforced my interest in using both psychology and finance to better understand how communities can create sustainable pathways for growth.

Another project that challenged me creatively was designing educational infographics for women and children in the community. We worked to transform important health, financial, and educational information into resources that were visually engaging, culturally appropriate, and easy to understand regardless of literacy level. Drawing from my background in psychology, I considered how people learn and retain information, while my experience in business and marketing helped me think critically about how to communicate ideas clearly and effectively. It reminded me that education is most impactful when it is designed with the audience, not just for them.

While these projects were incredibly rewarding, the relationships I formed throughout the fellowship are what I will remember and cherish most. Whether sharing meals, celebrating community events, or having conversations outside of our daily work, I came to appreciate the resilience, generosity, and warmth of the people of Bolivia. Those experiences shaped my understanding of service far more than any individual project ever could.

My time with World Peaces strengthened my passion for combining research, psychology, and business to create meaningful social impact. More importantly, it reminded me that effective solutions begin with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to learn from the communities we hope to support. I am deeply grateful for the friendships, lessons, and experiences I gained during my time in Bolivia, and I know they will continue to influence both my academic journey and my future career.