Global Citizenship in Jamaica
Public
Service
Location
Petersfield, Jamaica
Description
This course introduces students to the theoretical underpinnings of an increasingly regular student impulse: conscious ethical participation in a global community. From Ancient Greek conceptions of citizens of the Cosmopolis to Martha Nussbaum's contemporary 'thick, vague conception of the good,' the notion of global citizenship is imbued with enough hope to last for centuries, yet enough practical
difficulties to remain - some argue - merely a notion. Students in this course will review conceptions of global citizenship and associated ethics and consider those approaches in light of their intercultural travel and service in Jamaica.
Upon acceptance into the course, students will receive reading
assignments to be completed before meeting the instructor and the rest of the class in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Completing the readings and a preliminary paper before traveling allows for immediate engaged discussion on global citizenship in the context of intercultural immersion and exchange and service through community partnership.
Upon arrival in Jamaica, the class will first travel to Kingston and engage in an academic retreat. Students will explore notions of global citizenship and wrestle with inherently difficult associated questions such as the possibility of universalism, respect for diversity within a universalistic context, whether and when respect for diversity may be culled in favor of universalistic values, and much more. The Kingston portion of the course will include cultural events in Kingston and visits to service providers in the area.
Class members will then travel to Petersfield to engage in direct service in the community and live with host families. Students will continue to reflect on their academic understanding of global citizenship as they cooperate with community members to complete needed community infrastructure efforts, which in this case will most likely be beginning the construction of a pre-school.
As the service portion of the experience concludes, the class will again immerse itself in reflective academic discussion on global citizenship and its relation to our collective experiences in Petersfield. A visit to the resort area of Negril will compliment our consideration of individual choices in a global context. Students will be encouraged to develop frameworks - whether through global civil society, consumer decisions, political decisions within the state, or something else - through which to exercise global citizenship.
To fulfill course objectives students will: demonstrate familiarity with conceptions of global citizenship; develop a philosophical and practical approach to membership, whether affirmative or de facto, in a global community; and engage in an intercultural discussion with host community members regarding global citizenship.
Check out "Life and Debt" Documentary about globalization in Jamaica.
What is Public Service?
Pitt's Public Service Program http://www.pitt.edu/~cgs/public_service.pdf
The major in public service is a way for Pittsburgh's young adults to pursue meaningful and rewarding employment in government service, nonprofit management, the corporate environment, or as a citizen activist. Many of these classes get you into the community through a partnership with Amizade!
Jamaica
Jamaica will stimulate you on all levels. It's stunning beauty, tropical climate, ripe fruit, and warm ocean seas will constantly amaze you. With this beauty also comes a complex history that includes colonization and the slave trade. In recent years, Jamaica has been seriously affected by International Monetary Fund and World Bank policies as it struggles to keep its small economy competitive in the global market. Jamaica's economic legacy lies in the sugar industry but its current economy is based on tourism. Small, rural Jamaican communities still depend on the sugar industry for jobs and growth and they fear the changes that will come as this industry declines.
The Association of Clubs, the grassroots organization that will host us, was founded in the sugar co-op era of the 1970s as part of an effort to empower sugar workers, whose work conditions still at that time in many ways resembled conditions under slavery. Their work includes educating ordinary Jamaicans about the global economy. Other education programs have focused on the future of the sugar industry in the region, AIDS, and other health issues. They have engaged in projects to develop affordable housing, to teach young people leadership skills, to disseminate video production skills as a tool for community organizing, to equalize the playing field for rural athletes, and to develop small-scale enterprise in chicken-farming, craft production, and more.
Students will have the opportunity to stay in homestays with local Jamaican families. The homestay experience has been rated as one of the best aspects of our Jamaica courses as host families provide real insight into the community and Jamaican culture.
Details
Instructor:
Eric Hartman
Credits: 6
Service-Learning Abroad: July 29, 2004 - Aug 19, 2004.
Credits
Awarded: Credits are awarded for this course through
the University of Pittsburgh. This course fulfills Global
Citizenship (PUBSERV 1380) for 3 credits and Public Service
Independent Study (PUBSERV 1901) for 3 credits.
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