New Activisms, Human Rights and Social Justice
This program explores the struggles of people in Mesoamerica, a region that stretches from southern Mexico to Costa Rica. You will learn more about the human rights crisis the region currently faces from the perspective of historically marginalized communities (such as Indigenous and Afro-descendant people, peasant communities, women, members of LGTBQ+, and youth). You will explore the historical causes of social, ethnic, racial, and political conflicts that have shaped the region and engage with communities, groups and individuals who are organizing themselves to respond to the challenges they face today. The unique histories and lives of the people you will meet not only inspire, but will also challenge you to think about your role as an agent of change.
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Highlights
- Learn about diverse approaches to environmental conservation, sustainability, economic issues, and social justice.
- Frequent guest speakers, excursions, and hands-on active learning to immerse you in the community and culture.
- Spanish language class with native Spanish speakers in small class sizes. All Spanish levels are welcome, from beginners to native speakers!
- Participate on a program run by an organization dedicated to social justice, which uplifts the voices of underrepresented and marginalized peoples in all programs.
- Homestays with welcoming and friendly folks in each country.
- Travel to two countries in one semester - Guatemala and Costa Rica, with additional travel within each country.
Courses
Courses are taken on a block schedule (one course at a time). All students will take the following courses, completing 17 Augsburg University credits during the semester:
- Spanish – up to 12 course choices available from beginning to advanced
- Latin American Liberation Theologies and Social Change (Religion 336)
- Citizen Participation with a Globalized Economy (Political Science 310)
- In the Aftermath of War: History, Memory and Transitional Justice in Central America (History/Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies 355)
- Topics: Central American Cultures & Global Competency Certificate (Interdisciplinary Studies 291)
Student Life
Students will spend the first half of the program in Guatemala, learning about Guatemalan history, culture, and Indigenous populations, while also studying Spanish. Small and intimate language classes provide unlimited opportunities to practice Spanish. Students will stay in a mixture of lodgings and with families throughout all of these excursions.
Upon departing Guatemala, students will travel to Costa Rica, where the second half of the program will take place. The center of operation is the Latin American Biblical University, which serves as a space for classes and as a residence hall before moving in with families for the remainder of the semester. Students will stay with local families in the Cedros de Montes de Oca, a diverse middle-class neighborhood, located just outside the capital city of San José. You will go on excursions and field visits to self-sustaining eco-community, rural areas, and meet with immigrants, Afro-Caribbean Costa Ricans, artists, activists, and more!
Why This Program
This program is ideal for students whose career goals include working with immigrant populations in the U.S. (especially from Central America); working for Development Organizations and NGOs addressing developing issues and policies in the Global South; or students who imagine a life and career in grassroots organizing and activism in the U.S. While those might not be your career option, the program provides all students the personal and professional growth necessary to be aware and have a broad understanding of the world and their place in it.
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