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FIU professor honored for project uplifting Indian women
The student-driven initiative has empowered women in an Indian village through education, entrepreneurship, and global collaboration since 2015.
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Anushka Pathak - Fri, 24, Oct 2025
- 13:32 EDT
- 18
David Wernick, an international business professor and faculty advisor for the International Business Honor Society, is a recipient of the ‘2025 Changemaking Education Award’ / Courtesy: Florida International University (FIU)
David Wernick, a teaching professor of international business at Florida International University (FIU), has been awarded the '2025 Changemaking Education Award' for his decade-long project supporting women in a rural Indian community.
The award, conferred by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida, acknowledges educators who integrate civic engagement into academics.
The Bandhwari Women’s Project is a joint effort between FIU’s International Business Honor Society and a women’s cooperative in Bandhwari, near New Delhi, India.
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Initiated in 2015 following Wernick’s research visit to India, the project launched after he met Anup Nair, co-founder of the Incentive Foundation. Nair and his wife had developed community support programs and built a women’s center in Bandhwari.
Inspired by their work, Wernick launched a collaboration that linked FIU students to local artisans, focusing on sustainable livelihoods for women facing economic hardship.
Under the initiative, FIU students create and sell handmade products—including embroidered textiles and jewelry—through campus and online platforms.
All revenue is directed back to the Bandhwari community to fund education, healthcare, and vocational training. Annually, select students travel to India to observe the project’s progress and engage in cultural exchanges.
“It has truly been a joy to work with our friends at the Incentive Foundation to develop a program that has touched so many lives these past 10 years,” Wernick said.
“I look forward to continuing this remarkable journey of cross-cultural friendship and discovery while scaling our sustainable enterprise in the years to come,” he added.
Beyond its local impact, the program serves as a learning lab for FIU students, providing practical experience in international business, ethical trade, and sustainable development. More than 200 students have participated since inception, many crediting the experience for influencing their career paths.
Wernick, who joined FIU’s Department of International Business in 2002, teaches courses on global management and advises the honor society. His academic focus lies in emerging markets, but his teaching emphasizes hands-on, socially responsible learning.
The Changemaking Award highlights the increasing relevance of service-learning in higher education.
Looking ahead, Wernick plans to expand the Bandhwari project’s reach through digital sales and partnerships with additional cooperatives.
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