Alumna Works for Peace in World’s Newest Country

Press Clip Source: UTD News Center
Written By: UTD News Center
Date: February 9, 2012
Read Original Article: Here

Ornelas, who earned a master’s in public affairs in 2008 and a bachelor’s in political science in 2006 from the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, is an international civilian peacekeeper with Nonviolent Peaceforce, a non-governmental organization.

In October, Ornelas went to Unity State, another part of South Sudan, where she assisted the United Nations Refugee Agency in providing emergency protection to refugees who were vulnerable to attacks in South Kordofan, Sudan. The agency registers the refugees and trains some of them on issues related to gender-based violence, child protection and community protection. 

Ornelas also spent time helping refugees at a camp known as Yida in Unity State, South Sudan, which was subjected to a bomb attack on Nov. 10.