Location:

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Fall Semester, Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

Pre-departure coursework: GESI begins at Northwestern’s Chicago campus with a rigorous 7-day Pre-departure Learning Summit where students take 2 courses for credit (equivalent to 6 semester hours). A course in international development theory introduces students to the history and various models of development. A second course equips students to grow as leaders in multicultural environments and prepares them to function as “consultants” in small teams while working abroad. ?

GESI is a unique credit-bearing internship and study abroad program that combines experiential learning, cultural immersion, rigorous academics, and international work experience at dynamic, community-based NGOs. Students choose from one of 5 sites in Bolivia, India, Nicaragua, South Africa, or Uganda. Each site offers incredible opportunities for students interested in community development, public health, preserving the environment, social entrepreneurship, education, and more. ?

Comprehensive preparation and education; Immersion and experiential learning; Impact-driven partnerships; Group work and a diversity of perspectives; Sustainable asset-based development; Student-centered, multi-tiered support. ?

Setting Description:

Immersion and internship: GESI continues with a seven-week internship at a community-based nonprofit where small teams of 4-5 students work with community members and their host NGO to design and implement a small scale development project. GESI students implement solutions that build upon the strengths of local communities, and their worldviews are transformed as they learn to leverage the strengths—rather than focus on the weaknesses—of the communities in which they live and work. ? Famous for its beautiful white sand beaches and diverse ecosystems, the Dominican Republic has a history that includes cruel dictators, three centuries of colonial rule, and devastation wrought by hurricanes. Although the nation boasts a booming tourist industry and has the second largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American regions, communities struggle with environmental degradation, unemployment, corruption, and infrastructural challenges.

Cost:

$7,900 Summer. $15,612 Fall. Fee includes tuition for 2 Northwestern courses (summer) or 4 Northwestern courses (fall); Lodging, food, and transport during pre-departure and final summits in Chicago; In-country programming, orientation upon arrival, language instruction, and transportation stipend for travel to and from work; Homestay in-country with 3 meals per day. ?