“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy” – Norman v. Peale.
In 2014, I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Going to Keiser University was one of the greatest experiences in my life. I was blessed to be part of the Latin American campus which not only enriched my life academically and personally, but it also was a place where I met lifelong friends and I found my spiritual inspiration, Father Robert.
By 2016 I married my best friend Erick Garcia, also alumni of the Latin American Campus. During the first months of marriage, we moved to Costa Rica and I started my master’s degree in International Law and Human Rights at the United Nations Mandated University for Peace. I was a full-time student and also an intern at the Earth Charter International, an organization responsible for managing overall strategy and communications of the Earth Charter Initiative. This organization focuses on the Initiative’s extensive work in the field of education for sustainable development and youth empowerment. As an intern, I helped to develop and coordinate educational programs to inspire, engage and empower young people in building a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. During my master’s programme, I constantly felt inspired by my peacekeeper colleagues who came from all over the world and had made such a great impact in their countries. The master’s programme provided me with a thorough knowledge and understanding of the role of law in today’s complex global society and a key aspect was its in-built certification courses from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that helped me acquire and strengthen awareness on vulnerable groups. Promoting human rights has always been a personal goal, and now is a daily professional task that I am performing.
I am currently living in Belize where I am part of the United Nations Migration Agency – International Organization for Migration (IOM), an organization committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society, as the leading international organization for migration, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. Due to the situation in my country – Nicaragua, as part of IOM team, I can contribute not only to my people from Nicaragua but also the entire Mesoamerica region.
Xilonem Quiñonez M.A. International Law and Human Rights B.A. Political Science, Class of 2014
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