Jessica Gallardo is a distinguished McNair Scholar at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, where she is triple majoring in International Business, Marketing, and Global Languages and Cultural Studies with a concentration in German and Spanish. Her latest research project compares... Read More →
Saturday September 21, 2024 11:10am - 11:25am EDT
Potomac
This project investigates the multifaceted challenges faced by businesses and individuals in the conflict-ridden environment of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In a country where ongoing conflict disrupts lives and creates an atmosphere of insecurity, this study seeks to understand why many businesses fail and how these failures impact Congolese people. The research will explore the lived experiences of business owners whose enterprises collapsed or were harmed due to the war. The study aims to highlight issues such as infrastructure damage, supply chain disruptions, and the struggle for stability in a post-conflict setting marked by limited access to essential services like clean water, food, healthcare, and education. Additionally, the research will explore gender-specific challenges, including sexual harassment and early marriage, to understand how these issues intersect with business and personal resilience. Through semi-structured interviews, ethnography, and autoethnography, the project will shed light on the nuanced experiences of those affected by conflict. By tackling these interconnected challenges, the study aspires to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of post-conflict recovery and inform policies that support sustainable development and gender equity in the region.
