Students from the University of Denver’s Institute for the Study and Advancement of International Development have teamed up with Project C.U.R.E., the world’s largest distributor of donated medical supplies and equipment, to participate in internships and volunteer.

The ISAID program, added to DU’s Graduate School of International Studies in 2002, focuses on issues of global development and the creation of a more sustainable world.

Fifteen students from the program volunteered at Project C.U.R.E. two weeks ago, sorting miscellaneous supplies into groups and loading trucks.

Project C.U.R.E., a non profit organization, has delivered donated medical supplies and equipment to the ill and needy people living in more than 95 countries around the world since 1987.

Along with the volunteer work, GSIS students have participated consistently in C.U.R.E’s internship program launched last year.

President/CEO Doug Jackson believes students really benefit from participating in Project C.U.R.E.

“The program is still small enough where you can get hands-on experience with those who really make it happen,” he said.

“And at the end of the day, what you really did was change the world.”

With a qualified and experienced staff, including Vice President of Operations George Roberge and Director of Communications Heidi Hein, Project C.U.R.E. aids 96 countries, including Vietnam, Laos and Uzbekistan. DU graduate students, who participate in the program, praised it.

“It was a great internship because of the people I met and worked with,” said Alexandra Thalmann, DU GSIS student and intern at C.U.R.E. last year.

“The president and founder were really interesting and just meeting and working with them makes you feel like you’re really part of the team.”

DU currently has 12 graduate students in the internship. Jackson has praised DU students for their time and talent.

“[DU] has some really sharp students,” he said. “We’ll take all the DU students we can get.”

In the 2002 fiscal year, Denver-based Project C.U.R.E. delivered $24 million of medical relief to developing countries.

This year, Project C.U.R.E. anticipates delivering over 100 cargo containers valued at more than $30 million.