Are there any updates on the EAGxs that were to be set somewhere in Africa and India? I have a bit of context on the latter but little on the former.

Will there be another elsewhere in Asia, similar to EAGxPhilippines?

Hey, @Mechaluke. Thank you for your post!

Deciding where to go to college and what to study are huge life decisions! It is great to see you are going about this so intentionally. 

In reading your post, I think I have more questions than answers. Most notably:

1. Have you determined what it is that you want to return to study? This seems unclear in your post.
2. Where do you want to study? 
3. What schools are the best for what you want to study? How much does it matter that you go to a top school (objectively and to you personally)? 
4. How supportive is your current environment? How would that change if you were to move to study in the US? How do you anticipate these changes might impact your health? 

While I have other questions, these seem most broadly pertinent. I'd be happy to chat more 1-on-1 if you think that would be helpful. Feel free to schedule some time with me or send me a message on the Forum.

Glad to hear it! 
 

Just a quick note - EAGxBerlin is confirmed for September 13 - 15. Though applications are not yet open, you can save the date. 

I just want to give a quick shoutout to the whole Forum team. You have done an incredible job creating, testing, and implementing new features and navigating numerous highly complex issues throughout the year. Thank you for all you do! 

(Wishing you a wonderful New Year's, too!)

Context: I have been a practicing Buddhist, primarily in the Plum Village Tradition, since 2011. In addition to my personal practice, I am currently training to become a "lay monastic" (essentially, just doing more formal Sangha-building).

First and foremost, I appreciate your openness about your experience. I definitely understand how frustrating this can be, and you are certainly not alone in this. I feel comfortable in assessing that most, if not all, struggle with this to some extent - even years into practice. Myself included. There are so many variables that impact one's ability to be present and mindful, and it is important to be compassionate toward yourself whenever this happens for you. 

Broadly, what has helped me in my own practice is not conceptualizing meditation as meditation = sitting meditation. There are many forms of meditation (walking, deep relaxation/resting, hugging, eating, etc.) and every moment is an opportunity to be mindful and present. Another aspect of this particular tradition that I have found helpful is to move away from conceptualizing meditation and mindfulness as means to an end (consequentialist/utilitarian-esque thinking), and rather, as the end in itself (this is largely how it is regarded in my main tradition, but others regard meditation as [TLDR:] the way to enlightenment). 

I have also found that more diligently studying the sutras/teachings/texts/history has deepened my understanding and helped my practice, but I have simultaneously worked to avoid over-intellectualizing; instead, working to embody the practices and to integrate them into my daily life (incrementally over time, even if it is just a few seconds of being more mindful per day/week/month). 

As for jumping into a retreat - results vary drastically. Some find this beneficial, others find it extremely challenging and occasionally harmful (the latter is often true if people are struggling with deep emotional/psychological topics). I tend to encourage people to try a one-day retreat, maybe a weekend, rather than going all in on a week or more. It may also be worth considering which type of retreat you partake in; I would recommend doing research and tuning into what sounds best based on your wants/needs at the time you are searching. I attend retreats in various traditions throughout the year, but I most often attend retreats at Plum Village centers, as I have found that style most suitable for my wants/needs. I do find that other retreats/traditions can be more helpful at different points.

It is difficult to discuss this at length in a comment format, but I would be happy to hear more about your experience and discuss it further, if you think doing so would be beneficial (others are welcome, too). Feel free to schedule some time for us to chat.

In the interim, I am happy to answer questions here, in a message, or by email.

Thanks for your questions, Niklas! It is great to hear that attending EAGxBerlin was so beneficial for you both times.

Please note: I am not affiliated with CEA in any official capacity. My insights are based on limited information and personal attendance at several EAG(x) events over the past few years.

1. It is unlikely that attending EAG London would diminish your chances of being accepted to EAGxBerlin, as the latter event tends to have a more regional focus. That said:
   1. In a hypothetical scenario where the admissions team for EAGxBerlin is faced with two equally qualified applicants and one has attended an EAG while the other has not, they might favor the latter if they believe it would bring them more counterfactual benefit. 
   2. Conversely, attending an EAG might positively influence your application, provided you are otherwise qualified. It could be seen as a demonstration of high engagement and knowledge, potentially benefiting other attendees who might be less experienced.
2. It is my understanding that there will be an EAGxBerlin in 2024.
3. It is also my understanding that there will be an EAGxRotterdam in 2024.
4. Volunteering does not increase or decrease the likelihood of your acceptance. Though, your performance as a volunteer may positively or negatively impact how you are perceived. 
   1. Regardless, I highly recommend volunteering at these events. It is an excellent opportunity to deepen engagement with other volunteers and staff while contributing to the smooth operation of the event(s).

I would like to note that some individuals have expressed experiencing diminishing returns as they attend multiple EAG(x) events, especially if they occur in quick succession. This has not been my personal experience. As a community builder, my focus involves sharing insights about EA DC, community building and community health, and policy-related careers, both within the US and other regions of the world.

In a recent post, I shared where I am donating through the end of the year where I am donating through the end of the year.

TLDR

• 20% - The Life You Can Save's Helping Women & Girls Fund
• 20% - Animal Charity Evaluators' Recommended Charity Fund
• 20% - Spiro
• 15% - Giving What We Can's Risks and Resilience Fund
• 10% - Founders Pledge's Climate Change Fund
• 10% - GiveDirectly
• 5% - Anima International

I will likely write a post in January to share my 2024 giving plan. 

That's very kind. Thank you!

Thanks for your comment! The UNOS pairing and BOTEC are great callouts. Fortunately, Johns Hopkins Hospital is a part of the program network. As for the BOTEC: I am going to spend more time researching across sources (including interviews and with the donor team), but finding solid data to factor in has thus far been challenging.

Hi, Eugene. 

Thank you for sharing some of your story. It has been nice speaking with you on a couple of occasions. 

Here are some opportunities that come to mind:

1. I would start with LSE's Financial Support Office. Explain your situation and how this is impacting your participation at the University. They are the audience most likely to be sympathetic to your situation. 
2. Open Philanthropy offers a couple of opportunities that may be relevant:
   1. As you are a university group organizer, you might consider applying for the University Organizer Fellowship.
   2. Given your academic interests, performance, and attendance at a top school, consider applying for the Undergraduate Scholarship. The application deadline is August 18.
3. The UK has a great scholarship portal.
4. You might also read more about support for students from Ukraine in UK higher education. 
5. I am unsure of your status in the UK, but you may qualify for support through Student Action for Refugees (STAR).

Please do reach out if it would be beneficial. I wish you the best in your journey!