Martina Smidova hails from the Czech Republic and did her practicum experience at Women for Women International where she learned how the organization provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies.

Martina then did her internship experience in Indonesia with Helen Keller International where she worked with teachers of deaf students.  Martina has since done a country study on disabilities in Eastern Europe for the World Bank and spent seven months in the country of Georgia serving teachers of deaf children sponsored by Save the Children and the United States Agency on

International Development.  this summer Martina co-evaluated a UNDP project for a Czech NGO in Ethiopia.   She is currently working on her Ph.D.