Global Service-Learning

Is global service-learning for you? Do you have a desire to apply your academic knowledge to the real world, serve a community, build intercultural relationships and challenge yourself? Each Amizade service-learning program is built with the following unique and innovative elements. If they intrigue you, an Amizade Global Service-Learning Program is for you!

Academic Coursework
Global service-learning programs powerfully integrate academic content with cross-cultural service experiences. Classes may incorporate everything from a traditional classroom lecture to a community member lecture held in a sugar cane field; a traditional final paper assignment to a journal assignment on the meaning of activism in your life; a formal class presentation to participation in a community talent show. Your knowledge of the academic topics will deepen in conjunction with the experience of serving a community. Be prepared to study, research, present, write, and stretch yourself in new ways to apply academic concepts to the complex issues of the real world.

Service through Community Partnership
Service can take many forms on a global service-learning program but it will always involve a meaningful, community-driven project as an essential component of the program. Service project examples:

• Building schools, orphanages, or other needed community structures
• Tutoring children
• Aiding hospitals
• Developing promotional videos for community organizations
• Teaching technology

The service project is developed in partnership with community members who have determined a vital need and have the means to maintain sustainability of the project. On a global service-learning program, you will develop a new appreciation for the power of partnering to meet community needs.

Cultural Immersion and Exchange
The opportunity to live immersed in a culture is a momentous and rewarding experience. As a student and volunteer in a community, you will have the unique chance to interact with different populations of the culture such as farmers, community activists, religious figures, professionals, children and local students. Your mind, body and spirit will be stimulated with recreational trips to local sites of attraction. Visit the Andes Mountains, the Brazilian rainforest, the African Serengeti Plain, the Irish coast and more.

Personal Development through Reflection
Through reflection, you will come to new perspectives about yourself as well as your understanding of the people and places you visit. Reflection challenges you to think deeply about your own culture, values, and assumptions and it stimulates you to integrate your newfound knowledge into your personal goals and actions. Everyone reflects in different ways and service-learning programs generally provide you with a variety of reflection methods. Reflection may take place through:

• Journal-writing
• Group discussions
• Group projects
• Presentations
• Letter-writing to community members
• Creative expression such as website or scrapbook design

Regardless of the method, through reflection you will have an opportunity to share your voice and listen to the thoughts of others. Through conscious reflection, the world and your place in it will expand in new and unimaginable ways.

Relationship Building
On global service-learning programs, you often build relationships and friendships with community members as well as among your fellow students. Courses are comprised of small groups of students and after sharing plane rides, reflection sessions, classes, meals, service work, group projects and recreational activities, you will have a whole range of shared experiences. As an active participant in the community, you will also have the opportunity to develop intercultural friendships and participate in the shared life of your host community. Visit family homes and land, eat local food, observe traditional ceremonies, and share history and culture with the community.

Logistics
The Amizade Global Service-Learning Consortium Staff will take care of the logistics of the program such as meals, housing, transportation and recreation. This leaves you free to pursue your academic interests, complete assignments, participate fully in service and enjoy the cultural experience.

We can't require that you have the experience of a lifetime, but we certainly do everything in our power to make that happen!