Making the World a Better Place: Meaningful, Reciprocal Service Learning in Costa Rica

Authors

Nora GeerFollow

Embargo Period

12-13-2024

Degree Name

MA in International Education

First Advisor

Dr. Sora Friedman

Abstract

Despite the countless benefits that international service learning can present to host communities and student service learners, current service learnings offerings for undergraduate students remain relatively limited in quantity and intentionality. Unless international service learning programs lead with reciprocity, meaning, and sustainability, their pitfalls may exceed their advantages, resulting in an industry that leaves both communities and student participants necessitating more. The following proposed program in Costa Rica plans to lead by example, remedying service learning’s greatest shortcomings by making community relationship building its utmost priority, emphasizing cross-cultural exchange between students and community members, and offering service projects that fill a genuine community need and align with students’ own skills. Qualitative interview data from professionals involved in international education and international service learning help to frame the proposed program’s curriculum and program design. Ultimately, the proposed program will lead the way in contributing to fields of service learning and international education that are more thoughtful, thematically targeted, beneficial for all stakeholders, and socially just.

Keywords: Service learning, study abroad, international education, volunteering, community service, community engagement, experiential learning, cultural immersion

Disciplines

Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | Curriculum and Social Inquiry | Higher Education | International and Comparative Education

Recommended Citation

Geer, Nora, "Making the World a Better Place: Meaningful, Reciprocal Service Learning in Costa Rica" (2024). Capstone Collection. 3328.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3328