<< ON CAMPUS
BUILDING BONDS IN ECUADOR BY JENNIFER MARINO WALTERS THE VENTURE: A first-ever trip combining academic study, service–learning and travel abroad. Sixteen students in a Latin American history course taught by Professor Cyrus Veeser spent 10 days in the heart of the Mondaña community in Ecuador, deep in the Amazon rainforest. THE ASSIGNMENT: Work alongside community members to build the foundation for doctors’ residences at a new health clinic. THE ORGANIZERS: The Bentley Service–Learning Center, Cronin Office of International Education, History Department and ME to WE organization. THE CULTURAL EXPLORATION: Students played soccer with local children; learned about chocolate making at a cacao farm; visited a women’s artisan group, learning about their livelihoods and having a quick lesson in bracelet weaving. They even sampled beetle larvae, a delicacy in Ecuador. THE DEEP DIVE: Upon return, students did research connecting present-day Ecuador with topics covered in their history course. For example, freedom of the press, the health care system and the impact of falling oil prices on the government.
LEARN MORE | bentley.edu/ecuador PHOTOS TOP AND CENTER BOTTOM BY BRIA WILBUR, CENTER TOP BY RACHEL PALUMBO ’18, CENTER MIDDLE BY KARA GLIDDEN ’18
“ The work was tiring. We did a lot with our hands. We were sweaty. But at the end of the day, thinking about how much of a difference we made there was very rewarding. This trip was definitely one of the best things I’ve done during my time at Bentley.” Greeshma Rajeev ’16 | Major: Economics “ The cultural immersion experiences allowed us to fully live the reality of the natives in the Amazonian region. We were able to interact and see what they go through on an everyday basis just to make a feasible living. Coming from a low-income background, I was really able to relate to the people I was helping.” Jackson Le ’19 | Major: Computer Information Systems “ To go to Ecuador and experience a new culture — yet see that the kids there are very similar to the kids I work with every day in my service–learning project at Bentley, an after-school program for low-income kids — was really eye opening. It’s confirmed what I want to do in the future: work for an international organization that brings resources to underdeveloped communities.” Rachel Palumbo ’18 | Major: Creative Industries “ Every evening after a long day of work, we would come together to reflect and talk about the poverty we were seeing, about fair labor practices and about social issues that affected the people in the community we were helping — as well as all around the world. My classmates and I really developed a close bond.” Joey Milici ’17 | Major: Accountancy BENTLEY MAGAZINE | 7