With diverse training and expertise in applied human development, development work, public health, and pediatrics, I have extensive experience working with international NGOs on multiple development projects. These INGOs include Save the Children, World Vision International, Zigen Fund, and Global Alliance for Workers and Communities.

As I prepare to complete my Ph.D. training at Tufts University in the United States in the summer of 2007, I am seeking job opportunities to work with international NGOs or international organizations in China. I am most passionate about designing, monitoring, and evaluating development projects, particularly those that are oriented toward promoting the lives of children and young people.

Over the past several years, I worked with different organizations to apply my knowledge and skills to a variety of practical tasks. As an external reviewer, I evaluated more than a dozen community-based youth development project grant proposals for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). As a technical consultant for Save the Children China Program, I prepared a plan to guide child development projects and advocacy, focusing on nutrition, health, child protection, and schooling issues in rural boarding schools.

As a volunteer, I participated in the Zigen Fund’s monitoring field trips in rural China with their Board of Directors. Moreover, I worked on an evaluation project that assessed Global Alliance for Workers and Communities, a worker development program implemented in five Asian developing countries, and I took a leading role on the study in China.

Concentrated field experiences enabled me to gain a deep understanding of the intertwined challenges to promoting human development that require innovative, holistic, and contextually sensitive solutions. I also developed a wealth of first hand knowledge of the economic, social, and cultural contexts that can impact the effectiveness and sustainability of programs. Such knowledge is valuable in development work that aims to combat the root causes of poverty, and make lasting positive changes in the poor people’s lives.

Through working on these development projects, I became more skilled at engaging different groups in project-oriented conversations and activities. The groups with which I have worked extensively include NGO practitioners, local consultants, community members, government officials, university researchers, and project funders.

My experiences in designing and conducting workshops, trainings, and presentations are conducive to building and sustaining collaborations with work partners. I advised several Save the Children project staff members and a local consultant on enhancing juvenile justice and rural education projects. In addition to mentoring them on planning and conducting needs assessments, I also engaged them in discussions about how to analyze data to inform projects. Working with World Vision International, I designed and lead a workshop to train staff members on designing and evaluating child development projects.

My personality also makes me a strong candidate for work in the development field. I am highly self-motivated, goal-oriented, and committed to excellence. My strengths include handling multiple projects and work pressure with efficiency, optimism, and a sense of humor. As a leader, I motivate my teams by modeling learning in doing, respecting work partners, and mentoring and empowering junior colleagues. While being a team player, I also work well independently.

I welcome opportunities to make a humble contribution to enhancing economic and social equity in my home country, China, through development work. If you believe I can add value to your organization, please contact me at lang_ma01@hotmail.com or 1-617-692-0624. Thank you.

Lang Ma