MDP Student Spotlight: Juney Torres
The Master’s in Development Practice (MDP) is a two-year graduate program that trains practitioners to understand, design, and manage integrated approaches to sustainable development challenges. The program equips students with critical knowledge, practical skills, and the mindset needed to drive change in both developing and developed societies.
The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) is pleased to spotlight Juney Torres, a Leopold Bachmann Foundation (LBF) Scholar, pursuing her Master’s in Development Practice at the University of Los Andes in Colombia. We asked Juney five questions about her journey and her experience with the Global MDP Association.
Which SDG are you most passionate about?
From the process I have carried out with the community, we have worked with a gender equality approach, aligned with SDG 5. I have developed this path by promoting female leadership within the Sereyjwin community, while also strengthening artisanal products that, by tradition and culture, are primarily made by women. However, we have emphasized the importance of collaborative family work, showing that artisanal production is a process where the cooperation and support of all members — men, women, and youth — is key, and not solely the responsibility of women. In this way, the cultural value of the work is recognized while also strengthening household economies.
Additionally, we have promoted youth participation in cultural strengthening activities, highlighting the importance of every member within the community. All of this has allowed us to connect the sense of equality with a sense of belonging, territorial conservation, and agro-food systems, generating an integrated and sustainable process.
What is the best part about working on your MDP degree program?
I have found the process very interesting, as it has allowed me to listen to and learn from the knowledge of other participants, as well as understand different thought processes through the contextualization of experiences and life stories. Similarly, the theoretical development provides us with technical tools and analytical methods, enabling us to delve deeper into various aspects of study and apply them more effectively.
What is something that you are proud to have accomplished while working on your current MDP degree program?
One of the achievements I am most proud of in the MDP is having developed the ability to carry out a deep and contextualized analysis of community processes. This involves identifying and examining the different problems and challenges that may arise during the creation and implementation of projects, as well as understanding how the specific characteristics of each initiative impact the community. This approach has allowed me to generate more thoughtful, strategic, and locally adapted proposals.
How is the Leopold Bachmann Foundation helping you advance your career and aspirations?
To strengthen my skills in community project management and sustainable development, allowing me to apply theoretical knowledge in real contexts and advance in my professional path.
What is a fun fact about you? Something others might not know?
A fun fact about me is that I am introverted: in large groups I tend to be more quiet and observant, but in smaller groups where I feel comfortable, I become much more fluent and participative in conversations.
Juney’s journey reflects how the MDP program empowers students to blend innovation, tradition, and personal passion in the pursuit of sustainable development. Learn more about the MDP Program and read our other MDP Student Spotlights.
