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 2010-11.
Coordinating Organizations: Boston College Campus Ministry, in collaboration with the Center for Global Education (CGE), (www.augsburg.edu/global/).
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.
Itinerary: The beautiful people of Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the 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 profoundly impacted by policies and situations they can’t control.
Participants also spend a few days with families in Miraflor, a rural community in Nicaragua that has survived the recent war and that continues to struggle while living in abject poverty. Miraflor will once again host BC’s delegation and share with participants their life experience. For more information about CGE, please check CGE’s website.
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 Catholicism, 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 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 an Arrupe 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 team 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 4-5 hours a week, with retreats and the point drive week adding additional 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.
Health and Safety: Before applying for an Arrupe program, each participant and her/his family need to be aware that there are several health and safety 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_1765.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 psychological/mental/emotional health before applying. Should one participate in a program, one will need to continue to check these websites for updates, as these assessments may change before a trip departs.