Institute for Global Leadership

The IGL student organisations are pleased to invite you to the 2026 IGL Symposium: Resilience in the Global South — Rethinking Power and Order ⚖️

Taking place on 10 April this Friday @ Cabot 206, join us in our panel with distinguished speakers and a fireside chat on student research and preprofessional experiences 🗣️

Catered lunch from Felipe’s and Yafa Bakery will also be provided, we hope to see you there! 💫

LAC in Chile: Viña del Mar

After a week of diligently working on our projects, we all escaped to the beach on Saturday for a day of adventure and well-earned relaxation by the sea. On the shuttle ride to Viña del Mar, our sandy destination, I delighted in seeing all the beach-goers around me in their beachy outfits with sandals, sunglasses, and swim trunks. Once we arrived at the shuttle station, our group was quite indecisive about where to start our day. Luckily, there was a tour guide around ready to jump into action and show us the must-see sights...

https://sites.tufts.edu/globaljumbos/lac-in-chile-vina-del-mar/

MERG in Albania: Eid al-Fitr in Tirana

If Friday is about movement, Eid al-Fitr in Tirana carries a different kind of energy, one that’s softer, but no less connected.

I spent the morning in our apartment, but it didn’t feel isolating at all. The city was present in a quieter way. From the window and balcony, you could see it unfolding, with families walking together in their best clothes, shops closing early for the holiday, a steady flow of people heading out and returning home. Even without stepping into it, you could feel part of something shared...

https://sites.tufts.edu/globaljumbos/merg-in-albania-eid-al-fitr-in-tirana/

We received an email from Alumna Maria Figueroa Kupcu (EPIIC'93) today about the passing of Üner Kırdar. Those from that time will remember him as a panelist and great supporter of student initiatives -- inviting a group of students to present their video at the United Nations. He also hired Maria to work with him at the UNDP, the start of a lifelong friendship. The IGL mourns the passing of a fierce and gentle human being who worked all his life for the betterment of others.

From the Turkish Philanthropy Funds
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Ambassador Üner Kırdar, a distinguished international civil servant, visionary leader, and devoted family man whose life was defined by an unwavering commitment to advancing human dignity and global development.

Üner Kırdar built an extraordinary career spanning decades within the United Nations Development Programme, where he held senior leadership roles including Associate Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Throughout his tenure, he was not only a practitioner of development, but one of the early leaders who helped shape and advance what we now understand as Human Development Theory.

At a time when development was often measured narrowly through economic indicators, Üner was among those who championed a broader vision—one that placed people, their capabilities, and their freedoms at the center. He believed that true progress must be measured by improvements in people’s lives, opportunities, and well-being. His work helped embed these principles into development practice at scale.

Through his leadership, he supported countries navigating profound transitions—post-conflict recovery, economic restructuring, and democratic development—ensuring that policies and programs were grounded not only in growth, but in equity, inclusion, and institutional strength. He was widely respected for his ability to connect vision with ex*****on, bringing together governments, multilateral institutions, and civil society to advance long-term, sustainable outcomes.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Üner was known for his intellect, integrity, and generosity of spirit. He was a mentor to many, a thoughtful voice in moments of complexity, and a person who carried both humility and purpose in equal measure.

To his family and friends, he was a source of wisdom, warmth, and unwavering support. His presence enriched the lives of those around him, and his legacy will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Ambassador Üner Kırdar was born in İzmir on January 1, 1933. He completed his high school education at Galatasaray High School and graduated from the Faculty of Law at Istanbul University. He went on to pursue postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics and received his doctorate in International Economics and Law from University of Cambridge.

In honor of his life and values, the family has established a fund at Turkish Philanthropy Funds to carry forward his commitment to advancing opportunity, strengthening communities, and supporting future generations.

He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

LAC in Santiago: Chile es un país muy sufrido: The Words that Have Stayed with Me Most during My Research Trip

Today was one of the most meaningful days I have had in Chile so far. I woke up at 8:30 a.m. and got ready to visit the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Santiago. It was a powerful and emotional experience. Walking through the exhibits, I learned more about what happened during Pinochet’s dictatorship from 1973 to 1990. I read about the disappeared, the systematic human rights violations, and the pain that so many Chileans had to endure...
https://sites.tufts.edu/globaljumbos/lac-in-santiago-chile-es-un-pais-muy-sufrido-the-words-that-have-stayed-with-me-most-during-my-research-trip/

SSARG in South Africa: Undoing a Legacy of 300 Years in 30 Years

In South Africa, Black South Africans make up about 80 percent of the population and White South Africans account for only about 7 percent. Yet, nearly 70 percent of national income is controlled by the richest 20 percent, a group that remains disproportionately white due to the enduring effects of apartheid. With this, the Western Cape is often credited as a model of “good governance,” particularly the city of Cape Town. However, this depiction exists alongside some of the most extreme racialized inequality in the world. My research aims to examine this contradiction, and through conversations with policymakers and professors, this contradiction became clearer...

https://sites.tufts.edu/globaljumbos/ssarg-in-south-africa-undoing-a-legacy-of-300-years-in-30-years/

LAC in Santiago: Art and Democracy

Among rushing to interviews, enjoying the South American warmth, and trying out the comforting Chilean food—at least for my Brazilian taste, exploring Santiago has been an interesting exercise of curiosity and culture. Just like Boston, the capital of Chile is one of the most walkable cities I’ve ever been to, and staying in the neighborhood of Providencia puts us right at the doorstep of the departments of the U. Chile and Universidad Católica. In fact, it only took me a maximum of a 10-minute walk to attend all my interviews with professors. Yet, amid all the fieldwork, there is always an opportunity for a little side quest...
https://sites.tufts.edu/globaljumbos/lac-in-santiago-art-and-democracy/

MERG in Albania: Prizren, Kosovo

On Saturday, part of the group spent the day in Kosovo, in the city of Prizren. After a long bus journey we arrived in Kosovo around 1pm, starting our day with exploring the city itself. We walked around the river Bistrica e Prizrenit, admiring the mountains around us and the buildings surrounding the city...
https://sites.tufts.edu/globaljumbos/merg-in-albania-prizren-kosovo/

South Africa has increasingly become a leading hub for music in 2026, a spot previously held by Nigeria as recently as 2020. During Covid, countries like Nigeria experienced wide international recognition for their popular music, but South African artists were rarely mentioned. During my research and my conversations with professors and post graduate students at the University of Cape Town, we focused largely on looking at the history of the country and how this has played a role in where the music industry is today, how songs are perceived and the cultural and political tools being used to convey messages of resistance, not only to the government but to societal and economic structures that are still in place in contemporary South Africa...

https://sites.tufts.edu/globaljumbos/ssarg-in-south-africa-singing-freedom/

LAC in Santiago: A Day of Preparation

Yesterday was packed with adventure: research interviews, visiting the Chilean National Congress, Open Sky Museum photoshoots, tasty seafood, soccer and the beach…today, I wake up to the sounds of traffic and construction outside my window. I roll over in my couch-bed and stretch in the sun. We keep the windows open at night so we don’t overheat, my arms have gotten used to the mosquito bites...

https://sites.tufts.edu/globaljumbos/lac-in-santiago-a-day-of-preparation/

See Fatima's day in the Bo Kaap neighborhood of Cape Town as part of SSARG's 2026 research trip...

https://sites.tufts.edu/globaljumbos/ssarg-in-cape-town-a-day-in-bo-kaap/