We are thrilled to introduce two new study abroad opportunities designed for the service-minded student offered in both Costa Rica and Ecuador!
Students who choose to participate in the Service-Learning program with API will divide their time between volunteering at local projects and completing online coursework. Students will learn by doing and reflecting on their actions, all the while contributing to the long-term and strategic goals of a community partner abroad. Students will serve abroad under the guidance of a local site supervisor and a U.S.-based faculty member or assessment coordinator.
San Joaquin De Flores, Costa Rica
Project areas involve working with children in schools or with children and the elderly in social aid projects as well as working on a sustainable farm on the outskirts of San Jose.
Quito, Ecuador
Project areas involve working with children in varied social aid projects.
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- Summer students in Costa Rica
The online course available for credit that students will participate in is, “Service Learning 101 Course: International Edition”
This course explores the role of culture and service in shaping students personally and professionally for their future roles in both their careers and their communities.
In this course, students will:
- Learn about intercultural communication and competence, as well as cultural understanding
- Engage with underserved and under-represented populations
- Gain soft skills through the challenges and opportunities of living and working abroad
Students will be engaged in ongoing service through partnerships with community agencies as an integral part of the course.
The course integrates three main areas of focus:
- Engagement in service activities with a selected community partner in a mutually beneficial relationship based on a spirit of collaboration
- Reflection upon larger issues that affect communities through readings, journal entries and discussions
- Integration of community engagement and academic learning through discussions, papers, presentations and experiential activities
You can learn more about the Costa Rica opportunity on the website here, https://www.apistudyabroad.com/programs/costa-rica/san-joaquin-de-flores/costa-rica-service-learning-summer/
and the Ecuador opportunity here, https://www.apistudyabroad.com/programs/ecuador/quito/ecuador-service-learning-summer/course-offerings/
