I am Elisa Castrillón, a 25-year-old Colombian journalist currently pursuing a master’s degree in Women’s Studies at University College Cork, funded by the Roger Casement Award. My academic pursuits are driven by a profound interest in understanding and contributing to the field. Outside of my academic endeavors, I enjoy cycling, immersing myself in nature, and exploring diverse culinary experiences with friends and family.

Prior to coming to Ireland, I was working as a journalist at La Silla Vacía, a political media outlet in Colombia. My role was to cover women's agenda and coordinate courses about politics, democracy and media. I consider myself a feminist and I believe in activism as a way to fight inequality. Apart from activism, I have been working on gender and women’s agenda in Colombia as a journalist and I want to improve my knowledge and broaden my scope of these issues.

The Ireland Fellows Programme provides a unique platform for fostering global connections and cultivating new friendships. Having the opportunity to meet and live with other Fellows allows me to understand other cultures, learn from them and see my own culture from a different perspective. Moreover, I have learned a lot about empathy, respect, and dialogue from my course. Women’s Studies involves personal stories and difficult experiences. Learning from experience and listening to other people’s background has given me patience and perspective.

Ireland is a very beautiful country with its stunning landscapes and vibrant cultural life. However, adapting to the country has proven to be the most challenging aspect because everything is very different from what I know back home. Despite these challenges, the warmth and friendliness of the people in Ireland have helped me a lot. To date, I have found the biggest difference between Ireland and Colombia is the weather as Ireland experiences strong winds and extended periods of darkness during winter, whereas my home country, Colombia, maintains a consistent temperature throughout the entire year. Nevertheless, the people of both nations are warm and hospitable.

In the course of my fellowship, I hope to make a lot of friends from diverse countries and cultures. Fostering a network of friendships is my main goal because it can significantly enhance my understanding of the issues that I am passionate about and provide fresh perspectives on potential solutions. Moreover, I love the other Fellows for their openness and mutual support. Given the shared experiences of challenges, changes, fears, and emotions, the supportive community is important to settle down and not feel lonely.

I would recommend the Ireland Fellows Programme widely, considering it as one of the premier fellowships available. Its excellence extends beyond comprehensive coverage of expenses; notably, it fosters a sense of community among participants. Furthermore, the programme's administering body, ICOS, plays a pivotal role in addressing day-to-day challenges and helping us to settle and adjust to the country and the culture. The programme makes a very big effort to connect all of the Fellows and to have a full experience.

Based on my experience, I strongly advise all prospective candidates to consider how to deal with mental well-being should they be selected for the programme. While undoubtedly an exceptional opportunity, there are some challenges such as the weather, loneliness, the cultural differences, and the idea of being far away from loved ones. I highly encourage people to really think about mental health as a priority in all the process of applying and settling down in a new country.