Isham Lauds Social Work

"Everybody really needs to do social work," Jonathan T. Isham '82 says. Isham himself has followed that maxim throughout his years at Harvard. This year, he accepted a position on the board of a $12 million a year charity organization.

Isham now works as a student representative to Save the Children, which promotes nutritional information, agricultural training and research, education, physical improvements and legal help for children in 19 countries throughout the world. Save the Children now sends 82 per cent of its budget directly to charitable causes.

One year of work with Phillips Brooks House (PBH) and two years with Save the Children helped to prepare Isham for his responsibilities, he says. Isham served on the PBH prisons committee, where he worked to rehabilitate a 65-year old man who had spent 40 years in prison.

The North House sophomore says he wants to use his time at Harvard to publicize and raise money for Save the Children from local college and high school students.

He adds that his most important task is to remind Harvard students of the sufferings of others less fortunate than themselves.

While on Save the Children's board of directors, Isham says he will encourage a new organizational emphasis on a careful appraisal of the needs of an entire community, rather than sponsorship of individuals.

Laura Malis, publicity director of Save the Children, says Isham's previous work with the group suggests he will be hard working and competent.

Isham says he will always make time to work in social organizations and may use his experience as an Anthropology concentrator to work in a foreign aid service