CDAE in the World St. Lucia 2010 By graduate student Liz Ferris on behalf of the entire St. Lucia course
This year’s projects include: HIV/AIDS education, renewable energy, mangrove ecosystem management and rural transportation research. All Christina Lekas (below) was again in St. Lucia to continue an of the projects are developed in conjunction with partners in St. Lucia HIV/AIDS education project she worked on last year. from teachers and fishermen to government officials to ensure they address the needs of St. Lucians directly. These service-learning projects are also designed to focus on sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals. Undergraduate student Christina Lekas is the only returning student from last year and this year will be leading a project. She will lead the HIV/AIDS education project she participated in last year. Christina and five group members have gone through training in the Grassroots Soccer to use in St. Lucia. The model incorporates soccer and fun games as a non-intrusive way of teaching elementary age children about HIV and AIDS. They will use Grassroots Soccer to teach children and also train St. Lucian partners in the model so they can use it throughout the year. Gary and the students are excited to travel and looking forward to seeing their efforts payoff. This is the sixth year UVM will be involved in sustainable development projects on St. Lucia.
Photos provided by: Gary Flomenhoft and Christina Lekas
A semester’s worth of preparation have culminated with two weeks abroad in St. Lucia for the students in Gary Flomenhoft’s Sustainable Development in Small Island States course. The 14 students, 2 graduate and 12 undergraduate, travelled to St. Lucia on January 2nd for two weeks to participate in 4 different service-learning projects.
About CDAE
The Community Development and Applied Economics Department (CDAE) is part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Vermont. CDAE supports sustainable local, regional, and international communities through interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach that serve the public interest. The department offers undergraduate students the following majors and minors: Community and International Development, Community Entrepreneurship, and Public Communication. Additional minors are also offered in Applied Design, Consumer Affairs, Consumer and Advertising, and Green Building and Community Design. Two graduate opportunities are available within the department: Master of Science in Community Development and Applied Economics and Master of Public Administration (more at: www.uvm.edu/cdae). Both graduate programs participate in the Peace Corps Fellows Program (more at: www.uvm.edu/~cdaepcf ). 205 Morrill Hall, Burlington, VT 05405
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The CDAE Compass is edited by Anna Masozera and Jane Kolodinsky. To suggest a story or feature for the next newsletter, send an email to cdae@uvm.edu. Special thanks to contributors on this edition including Gabrielle Connelly, Liz Ferris, Kelly Hamshaw, Chip Sawyer, and Michael Moser.