Father Thomas Streit, C.S.C., Department of Biological Sciences, Haiti Program Since 1997, Notre Dame has been committed to the elimination of lymphatic filariasis. Through the mass treatment of more than 1.3 million people annually, the Haiti Program, led by Notre Dame biologist Father Thomas Streit, is one of the world's premier initiatives against elephantiasis.

In Nepal, millions of girls suffer in extreme poverty, deprived of even the most basic human rights. Many are abandoned, abused, or forced into child labor. University of Notre Dame women's soccer player Lindsay Brown and her 2010 national champion teammates are doing more than just hoping for a better life for Nepali girls; they're helping them to achieve it.Through a series of campus fundraisers, the women's soccer team sponsored the education of several girls at the Nepal's Kopila Valley School. Fighting to make an even bigger impact, Lindsay traveled to Surkhet over the summer to volunteer as a teacher, as well as to establish the school's girls soccer team. Their efforts truly demonstrate the power of athletics to educate, to inspire, and to build community. http://fightingfor.nd.edu/nepal

http://fightingfor.nd.edu/autism/ One out of every 100 children in the United States is diagnosed each year with autism, a disorder that affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. An interdisciplinary research team led by Notre Dame psychology professor Joshua Diehl is studying the effectiveness of robots in behavior-based communication therapies for children with autism, in an effort to break through barriers and discover effective treatment plans.

What if, in an instant, one of the world's most renowned, most beloved, most iconic sites was destroyed? Across the globe, many important cultural heritage monuments face the real threat of ruin by human or natural disaster. Scholars at Notre Dame are helping to ensure the preservation of these treasures.Architecture professor Krupali Krusche has launched a Digital Historical Architecture Research and Material Analysis initiative, which is mapping World Heritage Sites like the Taj Mahal and the Roman Forum with unprecedented precision and detail. The digital assessments will be translated into 3-D models which will provide essential information to best preserve and restore these sites in the future.Professor Krusche's comprehensive mapping technology and expertise have led her to be recognized as a leading expert on the construction of Taj Mahal. After earthquakes devastated much of nearby Nepal last spring authorities called on Professor Krusche to assess the condition of the Taj Mahal and identify any deterioration to ensure the future of the Indian landmark.

At Notre Dame, we fight for what we believe in. Through ethical leadership, education, research and outreach, the University seeks to cultivate in its students not only an appreciation for the great achievements of human beings, but also a disciplined sensibility to the poverty, injustice, and oppression that burden the lives of so many. The aim is to create a sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good that will bear fruit as learning becomes service to justice.