This week we have the story of an American college student who volunteered in Sri Lanka after the tsunami. But Alia Whitney Johnson's work in Sri Lanka didn't end there. That summer, the MIT freshman started volunteering with a nonprofit that ran a shelter for teenage moms. This experience changed her life, and that of the girls in the shelter.

Alia Whitney Johnson is the founder of Emerge Global. On the organization's Web site, you can find examples of the beautiful jewelry the young girls make and sell. Listen here to Alia speaking about her experiences in Sri Lanka with host Peggy Wehmeyer.

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