Service-Learning In Costa Rica
September 17, 2009
In an effort to bring service-learning to the UGA campus in Costa Rica, Leigh Askew and Danny Bivins, both faculty members of the Fanning Institute, were awarded two grants: a Service-Learning Fellowship for Askew and an International Scholarship of Engagement Grant for Bivins. They visited Costa Rica in February to meet with farmers in the Finca la Bella community to determine how the students from the College of Environmental Design, the Institute’s partner in this endeavor, can best assist this unique community during their study abroad experience in July. Askew and Bivins returned from their site visit energized by the myriad possibilities and opportunities not only for the upcoming summer term, but for establishing year-round service-learning experiences for all students who study at the campus in Costa Rica.
Following is a letter the two sent to Trish Kalivoda, Associate Vice President for Public Service and Outreach, upon their return:
We know how busy you are and thought that a little coffee from Costa Rica might help you through the long days. The coffee came from the farm of Oldemar Salazar. His family was the first in Finca la Bella, the farming community near the UGA San Luis campus that we are working with. Not only do they grow the coffee beans, but they have a small operation where they shell, dry, roast and package them. One of the most amazing things about the Salazar family is that for every bag of coffee they sell, they give a dollar back to the Finca la Bella community. Last year, their donations went to the local school to purchase school supplies for the students, and this year, the money will go towards the community library. We are already planning on collecting books for the library to take back with us in July.
The bag that holds the coffee is from a community project as well. The EcoBambu Paper Co-Op is a group of women who collect paper, coffee shells and plant fibers, and process it into hand pressed gift bags, cards, and note paper. Hotels in Santa Elena support their efforts by collecting materials like phonebooks and newspapers for recycling, and a local coffee roasting company supplies the shells and plant fibers. Not only is their product beautiful, but they are able to generate additional income by offering tours of their production site.
All that said, we have so many things that we want to accomplish this summer with the students. The farmers we met with are very excited to have maps created of their property, signage to identify their homes as tour sites, and marketing materials to promote the tours they offer. The best part is that we are going to be able to be absolutely responsive to the requests of the Finca la Bella families by having the students create what they want and need. And, of course, we have many ideas on how to further integrate service-learning into the study abroad experience for all students in Costa Rica.
We will keep you posted on our efforts, and we are so grateful for your support of our work!