Guatemala + Belize Travel Study and Field Internship
Next Trip: May 2014
Immerse yourself in another culture. Absorb the sights, sounds, and tastes of Latin America. Trinity Western University’s summer travel study program to Guatemala and Belize introduces students to the vibrancy and diversity of Latin culture. This year will mark the program’s fifth visit to the region, giving students the unique opportunity to explore and engage with its history, culture, and modern development. Use your skills and get involved in a local development project, participate in the creation of a local NGO in Belize working to better the lives of the locals, and learn about what positive change looks like.
From the tops of mountains, to the depths of sinkholes, to the sea and beyond…
The travel study program to Central America takes you across Guatemala through the mountains, across lakes and through the jungle into Belize, ending on the Caribbean Sea. Spend time in the Heritage City of Antigua exploring the cobblestone streets and markets, visiting old monasteries, and dining near the city’s beautiful plaza. Leave town and enter into the still ancient world of the indigenous peoples of the region. Experience village life and learn to make tortillas in the home of a local coffee farmer. Hear the wildlife playing above you in the trees as we trek through the dense rainforests of Tikal exploring the ancient city ruins. In Belize, dance to the beat of the Garifuna drums as we get to know the coastal people.
Experience the culture and learn about the development of the region in light of its history of political and social conflicts. Learn about what works in development and how to participate. Get to know local and global agencies working for social justice and equality.
Field Study and Internship
Get involved in a project tailored to your areas of interest, and gain hands-on experience working in a field you wish to explore. Work with local farmers and entrepreneurs who are looking to learn about marketing; research community health, education, or geography to help a local development project; or use your skills in photography or journalism to document the work of local agencies. The opportunities are wide and empower students to learn and grow independently. Get to know individuals, agencies, or businesses who can help direct you in your future. Take the opportunity to experience development work first hand!
Program Themes
Get beyond the crowd, beyond the cloud. Analogous to climbing a Tikal pyramid, up beyond the tree canopy, this program will position you for a profession with an international or intercultural placement. It is designed to equip students for careers with cultural and global options.
You will have first-hand exposure to a range of geographic, economic, and social environments. You will dialogue with indigenous Mayans and Garifuna struggling with discrimination and poverty. Innovative and insightful solutions and strategies, along with the warmth of the people, will inspire you.
Through an internship, you can apply your skills to realities and settings that will strengthen your cross-cultural communicative competencies. Learning outcomes call upon students to utilize their preferred expression: visual media (photography/videography) and/or journalistic formats.
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