Brazil Immersion/Service Trip 2008

Quick Links: What is the service trip about? | When is the Trip? | Can I apply? | Application Process | Costs | Responsibilities | Questions?

We're happy to announce that there will be a BC service trip to Brazil during the summer of 2008! The Brazil Service Trip is an opportunity to grow educationally and spiritually through an immersion experience at a social center for disadvantaged youth in Salvador , Brazil .

In an effort to bring new cultural experiences to BC students, and to continue the Jesuit ideal of "Men and Women for Others", the Department of Arts & Sciences is sponsoring the Brazil Service Trip. It is our hope for participants to return from the trip with an enhanced understanding of Brazilian culture, economic disparity, lack of opportunity, and the universal humanity that binds us together no matter what part of the world we live in.

What is the service trip about?

Participants will travel to Salvador , the capital of the state of Bahia . Urban crowding, poor education, and a general lack of opportunity to break out of the poverty cycle have created widespread economic disparity in Salvador . One byproduct of the poverty is that the city has a large population of children living on the streets of favelas.

The Jesuits in Brazil have responded to this situation by creating the Sementes do Amanhã (Seeds of Tommorow) mission. The Sementes do Amanhã mission takes these children, ranging from infants to adolescents, and helps them adapt to society, making them knowledgeable citizens capable of interacting in a positive manner to better their own communities. Sementes do Amanhã provides them with skills, which they can use in the working world, like agriculture, mechanics, cooking, and more. The mission is not only a place for the kids to learn marketable skills, but also a place to discover their place in the world.

As volunteers participants will be immersed with the children and foster parents throughout the trip. By being immersed in the daily life of Sementes do Amanhã, the participant will strive to build relationships with children that live with some of life's most difficult challenges - past physical/psychological abuse, non-existent or abusive parents, medical ailments, and poverty. Despite their socioeconomic condition and relative lack of a "childhood", the children at the Sementes social center are incredibly resilient and have proven themselves during our last trip as great teachers about relationships, spirituality and Brazilian culture.

We feel that this opportunity undoubtedly provoke serious personal, spiritual, and cultural reflection. As a result of this experience, it is our hope for participants to return from the trip with an enhanced understanding of their own spirituality and the direction of their life's work. Additionally , we expect participants to have experiences that will provoke reflection on economic disparity and lack of opportunity, Brazilian culture and the common humanity that binds us together no matter what part of the world we live in.

When is the trip?

The Service trip usually lasts between the third week of May and second week of June. Three weeks is the typical span of the trip, this varies throughout the years as it is dependent on the amount of funds raised by the participants.

Can I apply?

Any full time undergraduate student at BC is welcome to apply . You do NOT need to be a member of the Brazil Club nor do you need to be fluent in Portuguese.

What is the application process?

Deadline passed. Please check this page mid fall semester for application.

How much does it cost for me to go?

The trip is entirely paid for through fundraising. This includes airfare, lodging, food and transportation as well as some cultural activities. However, ALL PASSPORT AND VISA COSTS ARE THE RESPOSIBILITY OF THE PARTICIPANT. There has also been years where participants were required to give an out-of-pocket payment due to insufficient fundraising.

What are my responsibilities as a participant?

Participants must attend mandatory weekly meetings during the spring semester in order to prepare for the trip. Additionally, participants will be expected to help with all fundraisers including the point drive. Furthermore, each participant will be required to organize and execute a fundraiser with the help of the group . While the trip is open to non- Portuguese speakers, these participants are expected to attend a weekly intensive Portuguese class. Finally, participants will be expected to participate in all aspects of the service work and cultural activities while in Brazil .

Questions?

Email Igor Lima or Kathryn Zioto