Summary/Abstract

Participants of BVS Guatemala were given the opportunity to: build leadership skills through community service, integrate academic experience with community engagement, and gain an understanding of concepts of social justice (and the roots of systematic oppression).

Our two main projects during this service trip were building stoves, and engaging in various community building activities with a group of Mayan women (and their children).

We built a total of 9 stoves, and participated in corn shucking contests, spontaneous face painting parties, and sat in on humbling dialogues and testimonials.

Projects/Duties & Responsibilities

Impact / Results

My goals/objectives included:-Becoming a better listener.-Stepping up to be a lead translator. (ENG to SPAN and vise versa)-Remembering that I was placed in a different country to learn, more than “serve”.

Goals & Objectives

This experiential learning opportunity has transformed my UMB experience because I now have a group of people on campus that I consider family. Not only can I reach out to them for advice, I can look to them for support in any of my future endeavors.

Reflection / Next Steps

This trip would not have been possible without the following:- All those responsible for funding the Beacon’s Student Success Fellowship- The Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement- Our host family and our partner organization in Guatemala- Friends and family who donated- Our trip leader, Cassandra Gath

Thank You!!!

Indigenous Women's Empowerment in GuatemalaExperiential Learning Course, Beacon Voyages for ServiceMay 21 - June 1, 2016Amber-Nicole Rodriguez, College of Liberal Arts, B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies, May 2018

This experience reinforced my want to advocate for women’s rights and empower the youth,(esp. minorities). I do not have a set career path yet, but I now see myself going into social work, or even education!