The Nicaragua trip is “Education” Immersion based

Trip Destination:  Nicaragua, Central America.  Participants spend time in Managua, the capitol, and spend a few days with families Miraflor, a rural village in Nicaragua’s countryside.

Trip Dates:  Approximately 7, 8 or 9 days toward the end of winter break 2011-12.
Coordinating Organizations:  Boston College Campus Ministry, in collaboration with the Center for Global Education (CGE): www.augsburg.edu/global/

The Center for Global Education Philosophy:  The pedagogy of all programs encourages an interdisciplinary approach to learning in which the content and process are strongly interrelated.  Participants are both teachers and learners, engaged in a continuing interplay between action and reflection.  The method is participatory, problem-posing and experiential.  Participants are invited to consider both theory and application in the context of their own experience.

Nicaragua Trip Itinerary:  The B.C. Nicaragua delegation travels to Nicaragua where program participants collaborate with long-time in-country partner, the Center for Global Education.  The beautiful people of Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the western hemisphere, have survived many years of abject poverty, war and oppression.  The Center for Global Education designs the trip’s itinerary and coordinates each day’s activities, which include meetings and conversations with representatives of the Church, the government, political parties, and non-governmental organizations involved with and committed to human rights, globalization and trade, sustainable agriculture and development, health, education, post-war transition and reconciliation, among other topics.  While learning about macro-level social, economic, political, and religious issues from various perspectives, participants also have the opportunity to witness first hand the joys and struggles of people impacted by policies and situations beyond their control. 

Participants also spend a few days with gracious families in Miraflor, a rural community in Nicaragua that has survived the recent war and that continues to struggle while living in poverty.  Miraflor will once again host B.C.’s delegation and share with participants their life experience. 

Exploring Faith:  Prayer, reflection, journaling, and sharing with each other are core aspects of this experience before, during, and after the trip.  While Arrupe programs are open to people of any faith tradition, they are influenced by the Catholic tradition, and Catholic liturgies are a part of the experience.  Each participant is expected to participate in this aspect of the experience, share about her/his faith, in all of its joys and struggles and questions, and to explore how faith, and the gifts they have been given, connect to living in solidarity with all people, especially those who experience marginalization.

Living Simply:  During a trip, participants are expected to embrace “living simply.” Part of what this means is eating food that may not be familiar or plentiful, sleeping in beds or other places that are less comfortable than what might be accustomed to, getting dirty, bathing rarely, experiencing limited personal space, and possibly getting sick.  Participants also may find themselves in situations that could instigate allergies, or not be able to accommodate dietary preferences, etc.

Time Commitment:  Participation in an Arrupe program involves a year-long commitment which includes preparation for and follow up after a trip.  This commitment involves participating in weekly community meetings, a pre-trip and post-trip retreat, several presentations, a few Catholic liturgies, a number of fundraising events and activities, and pre-trip and post-trip social justice awareness-building and community service projects.  Expect this commitment to be about 5 hours a week, with retreats and the point drive week adding hours. (Please note the “important dates” associated with the program.)

Language Proficiency:  Although being able to speak Spanish is useful while on the trip, participants do not need to be able to speak any language other than English to participate.

Safety and Health:  Before applying for an Arrupe program, each participant and his/her family need to be aware that there are many safety and health risks associated with traveling to the destinations visited through this program. Please check the U.S. Department of State’s assessment of traveling to these destinations http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_4965.html, the Center for Disease Control’s assessment of traveling to these destinations http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx, and consider your own physical and emotional/psychological/mental health before applying.  Should you participate in a program, you will need to continue to check these websites for updates, as these assessments may change before a trip departs.

The Center for Global Education Safety Statement:  “The Center for Global Education places the safety and security of students and participants as our highest priority.  Consequently we have successfully and safely run programs for the past 30 years and will not hesitate to cancel or reroute programs if needed, to secure the safety of students and travel seminar participants.  Our study abroad office subscribes to alerts from places like the US State Department and is a member of networks that share any relevant information.  But perhaps our most important way of monitoring potential safety risks, is the fact that we have staff in every country where we do programming who keep up-to-date with local news, and are able to monitor safety at a local level and can immediately discourage us from continuing programming if any threats exist.  In addition, students and program participants are provided with very specific guidelines to follow as their personal responsibility in reducing risk and they will be immediately notified of any heightened risk to their safety and security.  Staff continually monitor the situation to ensure the safety of students and travel seminar participants.”