Fedia's LSE Tuition & Fees Fundraiser

Getting accepted into the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) to study Social & Cultural Psychology is a dream come true! LSE is a world-renowned university!

My Story:
My name is Fedia Louis, and I am currently an emergency response Psychiatric Social Worker for NYC Health & Hospitals. I am an essential frontline mental health care worker at the epicenter of the COVID-19 global pandemic. I am at risk each time I visit a patient in the community to assess for safety and provide linkage to mental health outpatient clinics or involuntary removal to a local psychiatric emergency room. The current global pandemic exacerbates the discrepancies in health care for marginalized and predominately colored communities due to institutionalized racism and the lack of culturally competent services. I've witnessed firsthand the consequences of a lack of culturally relevant services in direct health care to Black Caribbean immigrants. I have also seen first hand how Black people carry a disproportionate burden of illness and deaths from this COVID-19 pandemic. At the root of health differences between racial and ethnic groups are institutionalized and structural racism. This pandemic has further confirmed my desire to obtain this degree to equip myself better to serve my community. Adequate health care and social interventions cannot be provided without understanding the societal and cultural aspects of the various populations being served.

My story began when I moved to the US from Haiti in 2002 to reunite with my mother. In 2009, I became the first from my immediate family to graduate from Binghamton University with a BA in Sociology (with honors), & a minor in Africana Studies. I continue breaking barriers by obtaining my Masters of Science in Social Work from Columbia University in 2015. Despite often experiencing imposter syndrome and racism during my time at both universities, I never let myself get discouraged because I am very confident in my intellectual ability.

By helping me to obtain a MSc in Social & Cultural Psychology from LSE, you are contributing to help me fulfill my dream of becoming a Social Psychologist- the training to understand human behavior within a social context. I also aspire to become a professor and help teach the next generation of social and cultural scientists, and to contribute to cross-cultural awareness. I will use my new learning experience to undertake research projects that will contribute to developing social and cultural theories that can serve to understand Black Caribbean immigrants and help lead to culturally competent social services. The available research and theories on social and cultural psychology frequently do not reflect the diversity of our world. In other words, understanding of Western cultures and societies are overrepresented, and non-Western societies are underrepresented. I want to use the knowledge and skills acquired in this program to conduct studies that represent the voices and experiences of Black Caribbean immigrants.



Why London?
It has always been a dream to live and study outside of the United States, what better place than London, England? Just as New York City has been my classroom, office, and laboratory in understanding and living with different cultures, I hope London will be all those things for me.

LSE 2020/21 Tuition & Fees:

Tuition: £ 22608 (approx.: $27,636.02-(https://money.cnn.com/data/currencies/)

Accommodation: $18,978.76
Student Halls with 50-Week Contract:
Move in on: Sunday September 20 2020
Move out on: Sunday September 5 2021
Approx.: £ 1300 per month -
($1,581.58 https://money.cnn.com/data/currencies/)

http://www.lse.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/assets/documents/table-of-accommodation-fees-season-b.pdf


Therefore, I am hoping to raise approximately $50k as the exchange rate fluctuates. I am also taking into account visa and miscellaneous fees.

I have until July 31, 2020 to accept my offer and show proof that I have sufficient funds. I continue to apply for various scholarships and will adjust the fundraiser's financial goal as I receive funds from scholarships. As soon I found out I got accepted on May 21, 2020, I've been applying to part-time jobs to help increase my savings (10k+). Unfortunately, I can't defer the offer; therefore, failure to raise funds means giving up my offer to study there, as reinstating my application for next year DOES NOT guarantee that I would get another offer the following year.

This has been a two-year process for me. Please, no amount is too small.

CashApp: $FediaLouis

Zelle: [email redacted]

Thank You,
Fedia

#getfediatoLSE

At work- Heading out into the community to provide mental health services.

At work- Heading out into the community to provide mental health services.