At the age of six, Divya Chauwan relocated with her family from Nepal to Rochester, NY with help from the International Organization for Migration after facing political unrest and discrimination.
“Helping people is what I’ve always wanted to do, and I get to do it every day and make a difference.”
Divya Chauwan
“Coming from a hut the size of a Brockport classroom to the person I am today is something that humbles and amazes me every day,” said Chauwan, now a double major in International Relations and Political Science at SUNY Brockport.
Since moving to the United States, Chauwan has developed a passion to help immigrant communities and has channeled it through an internship with the DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG). There, she worked to address housing issues, primarily for international students and the elderly, as part of their Consumer Mediation Program.
“We have a database where individuals file their housing complaints,” Chauwan said. “A lot of times people report that they are in unsafe living conditions with infestations or mildew. My role figures out solutions between landlords and tenants without having to go to court since court can be extremely pricey.”
To facilitate solutions between the parties, Chauwan chats over the phone with the party issuing the complaint to gain more information about their case and discuss ways the OAG can assist. Then, she contacts the landlord to explain the situation and potential stipulations which can often result in relocating the tenant to another unit at no cost or allowing the tenant to terminate their lease.
“Some people cry on the phone with me, but it almost always is a happy cry for finding a solution” Chauwan said. “Helping people is what I’ve always wanted to do, and I get to do it every day and make a difference.”
According to the Associate Director of SUNY’s Washington Internship Program, Dr. Robert Powell, the program has had only one other recent student secure an internship with the OAG.
“I saw so many names on the OAG’s internship list with students from top schools, whereas I’m the only one from a smaller state school,” Chauwan said. “Representing Brockport in this way makes me feel so proud.”
To further assist those in need, Chauwan co-founded Break Free, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting refugees, particularly women, who have faced and survived sexual violence in their communities.
“When people come to me with their stories, I refer them to legal resources or to Refugees Helping Refugees,” Chauwan said. “My cofounders and I felt like we needed to provide this resource because in Rochester there is a large population from Southeast Asia and the Middle East. This organization aims to break the chain of social stigmas surrounding sexual violence. Everyone deserves to be free of the toxicity around it.”
“The support system you gain at Brockport is amazing. What I love most about the professors is how knowledgeable and uplifting they are.”
Divya Chauwan
Chauwan successfully assists refugees and immigrants utilizing communication skills she strengthened at Brockport. Experiences like EuroSim, which allows students to simulate legislation within the European Union, and building relationships with her professors at Brockport played a key role in building those skills.
“The support system you gain at Brockport is amazing,” Chauwan said. “What I love the most about the professors is how knowledgeable and uplifting they are. If you have any questions regarding class material, another country, or foreign policies, they will always be there to help.”
After graduation, Chauwan’s goal is to go into human rights diplomacy in her home country.
“I had the chance to go back to Nepal last year,” Chauwan said. “My trip opened my eyes to the unfair treatment of women and lack of educational opportunities that still exist. This sparked my motivation to want to become a voice for the unheard.”