International Community Involvement
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International Community Involvement Today’s technology delivers different cultures and ideas literally into the palms of our hands. We can text, email, or Skype our messages around the world. But can we really understand another culture by reading about it on the Internet? Can we truly distinguish the subtleties of a society through the blogosphere? Perhaps not. Wildwood’s International Community Involvement (ICI) Program provides upper school students with a unique opportunity to spend spring break living, working, and learning abroad. Hands-on experiences such as teaching in local schools or building houses in low-income communities give participants a distinct perspective about the country’s social, political, and economic reality. ICI trips allow students to put their Wildwood education into action, drawing on language skills and lessons from Habits of Mind and Heart to face challenges and enjoy unforgettable experiences. Through interaction, exploration, and reflection, students return with a better understanding of their world—and their role within it. 2011-2012 ICI trips Guatemala Students who visit Guatemala will be exposed to Mayan culture and traditions while learning about fair trade, land rights, the Mayan religion, and human rights. The journey will begin in Guatemala City. From there, students travel to San Lucas Toliman, near Lake Atitlan. The lake, one of the most beautiful in Central America, is surrounded by three volcanoes and several small Mayan villages. Students will help construct a home for a low-income family in collaboration with CCDA, a local organization, and members of the family who will be receiving the home. They may also choose to learn weaving techniques from local Mayan women through Aj Quen, a support organization that assists the Mayan weavers. Side trips include a tour of Antigua and a stay at the Mayan city of Tikal. Students who participate in the Guatemala trip will stay at a villa on the shores of Lake Atitlan. While they will not do homestays with local families, students will have many opportunities to interact with local people. Bulgaria and Turkey For this trip, Wildwood will partner with Meridian22, an innovative and prestigious high school in the capital of Sofia. Wildwood students will stay with local families while they team up with peers from Meridian22 to do community involvement projects at a local orphanage. Projects will include music, art, drama, photography, and physical education for elementary school-age children. While in Sofia, Wildwood students will visit museums, cultural centers, and other local sites. They will spend a weekend visiting Rila Monastery, founded in the 10th century. A trip to Veliko Tarnova, the medieval capital of Bulgaria, will expose students to more history, and a four-day adventure in Istanbul, Turkey will highlight cultural treasures of the Byzantine Empire. Highlights in Istanbul will include time in the old section of the city where the sultan’s palace is located, the Grand Bazaar, the Egyptian Bazaar, the Underground Palace, and a boat tour around the Bosporus. Uruguay and Argentina Students who select this trip will practice their Spanish and develop meaningful relationships with host families from the Scouts of Uruguay. Students will spend mornings working with teachers and children at Colegio Obra Banneux, an elementary school in a low-income area that provides 450 students with an education, meals, and social assistance at no cost. Wildwood students will prepare lesson plans, organize (over) presentations, and think of creative ways to motivate Uruguayan students to practice the English they’ve learned in the classroom. In the afternoons, students will explore the rich cultural heritage of Montevideo through visits to parks, museums, and by taking part in activities planned by the Scouts of Uruguay. They’ll also take a day trip to the beach town of Punta del Este, which includes a visit to a traditional “Estancia.” Students will take a ferry from Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where they will meet with human rights activists from The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. Additionally, they will visit La Boca, Recoleta, Palermo, and San Telmo. They will see Eva Peron’s memorial and museum, and have a chance to learn to dance the tango. Nepal Nepal is a melting pot of Buddhist and Hindu religions. We will visit several of Kathmandu’s beautiful temples and squares. The Boudha Stupa, the holiest Buddhist temple outside of Tibet, allows visitors to take part in daily rituals and ceremonies and is one of the few places in the world where Tibetan Buddhist culture is accessible and unregulated. We’ll also visit Thamel, Kathmandu’s best-known trade section, where we’ll explore the arts and crafts of Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. Our community involvement work will take place Bhaktapur. Located about 45 minutes outside of the capital, Bhaktapur is the third of the medieval city-states in the Kathmandu Valley and the best preserved. Students will stay at a local tea house. Springdale School of Bhaktapur will welcome us and host a series of activities at their school. We will take part on round table discussions on culture, provide support in the classroom with English instruction, and join physical education activities. In the afternoons, we will visit the Unatti House, a foundation that helps local Nepalese girls. A five-day trekking expedition on the Everest Trail will take us from Lukla to Namche Bazaar in the Himalaya Mountains. We’ll hike and sleep in tea houses along one of the most beautiful trails in the world. Trip details ICI trips are offered to Division Three and Senior Institute students and are chaperoned by Wildwood staff. Participants are selected through an application process. Fees: $4,000 (Guatemala), $4,200 (Uruguay and Argentina), $4,200 (Bulgaria and Turkey), $4,300 (Nepal) Fees includes airfare, lodging, transportation, meals, and insurance. Trip fees are paid in three installments: a $1,000 deposit due Dec. 12), $1,500 due Jan. 17, and the balance due Feb. 17. Students who receive financial aid may be eligible for funding. If you are interested in participating in an ICI trip, please note the following dates: An informational meeting for parents and students will be held on Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in rooms 135/136. Applications are due Nov. 21, 2011. Prep sessions: Prep sessions for student participants will be held at the middle and upper school campus at 5 p.m. on the following dates: Jan. 10, Jan. 24, Feb. 14, and March 5. Details for additional dates will be provided later. For more information or to receive an application, please contact ICI Director Alberto Duarte at (310) 881-2422 or [email protected]. .