Global Community Development Village Network: An Interdisciplinary International Service Learning Model

Abstract

In the summers of 2007, 2008, and 2009 the University of Arkansas (UA) sent 148 students to Belize for a month to perform service projects as part of a new service learning program in developing countries. During the spring semester, the students enrolled in an interdisciplinary lecture course team-taught by 9 faculty members plus a discipline-specific practicum held on the UA campus. The subsequent summer session was spent in the Dangriga, Belize vicinity with students implementing their service projects developed during the spring semester practicum. Each year eight student teams implemented approximately 12 projects in different disciplinary areas. The UA partnered with Peacework, an international NGO with a long-time presence in Belize and initiatives in many countries worldwide and committed to a minimum of 5 years for projects in Dangriga. The partnership utilized the “village network” concept where these partners worked with the Dangriga community leaders to determine the multifaceted efforts needed to have a broad and positive impact on the community. The UA placed administrative staff in Dangriga during the academic year to develop and maintain contacts and provide legwork and on-site organization for the projects. Projects dealt with microfinancing, small business consulting, literacy, social work, hygiene education, water systems, protected area management, school farms, and education. The program faced, and continues to face, a number of challenges, such as coordinating and administering a multidisciplinary program, securing financing, ensuring academic rigor, and providing logistics. In spite of the challenges, the program was overwhelmingly successful, changed students’ lives, and received good community feedback. The UA and Peacework hope to expand the program to other countries. The UA Belize study abroad program, featuring an interdisciplinary, long-term, community partnership between UA and Dangriga, offers a challenging but promising service-learning model.