Maya takes care of Mali, an elephant at the foundation, each day.
For her Global Perspective summer, Maya DeCoux ’26 is volunteering with the Elephant Care Relief Foundation in Sri Lanka. The scholar fundraises for rescues, advocates for the ethical treatment of elephants in government-owned facilities, and provides direct care for elephants.
The scholar said she was interested in working with the nonprofit to enhance the lives of domesticated elephants.
“This ongoing journey deepens my commitment to animal advocacy, ethical treatment practices, and mindfulness,” she said.
In addition to elephant welfare, the scholar has been participating in Buddhist meditation sessions and mindfulness retreats guided by monks and nuns at local temples.
The experiences have shaped her “pursuit of mindfulness, inner peace, and happiness” while “minimizing personal greed and negativity,” she said.
Maya has also volunteered in environmental initiatives, such as rehabilitating injured turtles for their release into the wild at The Green Lion and teaching English at local schools.
“Through direct experience and cultural immersion, I continue to gain invaluable insights into sustainable conservation and personal growth, fostering connections that will guide my future endeavors in global welfare and mindfulness advocacy,” the double major in psychology and neuroscience said.
The Global Perspective summer is an opportunity to conduct an independent research project or learn about a new sector or part of the world through a more traditional internship.
