Rives Argeñal headshot

Leland Fellow

Amanda Rives Argeñal

3rd Class, 2005-2007

Field Placement: Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), Honduras

Amanda developed a food security strategy for drought-ridden regions of southern Honduras. The year-long process she designed included a livelihoods analysis, a nutritional assessment, and an extended participatory rural appraisal with elected community representatives. The strategy was also informed by a study Amanda conducted on hunger and international migration from southern Honduras.

Policy Placement: Christian Children’s Fund, Washington, DC

As the D.C. Office’s Policy Advisor, Amanda represented CCF in Washington-based advocacy efforts around children and families. Amanda participated in relevant committees, working groups, and coalitions to aid in CCF’s policy development. She also coordinated CCF’s representation on Capitol Hill and informed CCF headquarters on relevant legislative and executive branch developments, Congressional hearings, and meetings. Amanda served as the office’s point person for Health, Nutrition, Food Security, and Childhood Hunger, as well as Latin America and US Programs.

Pre-Fellowship Education/Experience:

Amanda has an MA in International Development with concentrations in public health and community development from American University. She managed a Migrant Outreach Program for three years, supervising a staff of 14 outreach workers and drivers, which provided health outreach services to a population of 25,000 migrant farmworkers in southern New Jersey. Amanda was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras, where she worked primarily with youth and with midwives as a health extensionist. Prior to joining the Peace Corps, Amanda was an International Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State in the Office of Cuban Affairs. She earned her BA in International Affairs from George Washington University.