Environmental Conservation and Design: Costa Rica

Environmental Conservation and Design: Costa Rica

Program Overview

Program Description

Costa Rica has over 160 parks and wildlife refuges, which are habitats for many endangered species. Within the country has expanded in recent years making protected conservation areas critically important for species preservation. Alongside this priority is ensuring that local communities have environmentally friendly and secure access to food. Organization partners in the Pacuare community on the Caribbean coast are developing systems to support greenhouses in the community. This community is located on a sandy coastline which has a unique set of agriculture conditions which impacts the variety of food produces locally. This summer the community organization is investing in the development of some technologies, including a biodigestor for fertilizer. Students will be involved in the redesign of an existing biodigester and community education (specifically with school children) on greenhouse technologies.

Our community partner in Costa Rica is Quelonios del Caribe. Students will work on an ecological service project alongside Roberto Solano Cordero. Roberto is the lead biologist overseeing the project. Roberto is a biologist by profession although he also carries titles as an educator among other things. Roberto oversees projects in sea turtle, and other species conservation as well as training and education in the area of sea turtle ecology and biological management. Roberto has also worked for the National Maritime Patrol, the National Coast Guard Service, the Ministry of Education, as well as different associations and non-governmental organizations dedicated to conservation. Roberto has been a teacher, naturalist guide for tourism, environmental consultant, project manager, volunteer coordinator, and youth leader. He strongly believes in experiential learning as it is the best way to gain fulfilling work experience that will help shape future career paths.

Accommodations

You will be staying in the organization’s hostel accommodation.

Program Dates

Date Activity
Mar – Apr 2017 Orientation and pre-departure learning sessions (all successful applicants will be expected to be in attendance at all sessions)
Late June – Aug 2017 8 weeks of fieldwork in an International Service Learning placement
Sep/Oct 2017 Re-entry debrief and public engagement presentation on campus

**Please note these dates may be adjusted but will be confirmed prior to offer.

Program Costs

The costs below are per student and are yet to be fully determined, but will be within the following ranges.

Location Program Fee
Costa Rica $2,900 – $3,100*

Rural Water and Sanitation: Appropriate Technology Design and Implementation

Program Overview

Program Description

Bolivia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world with landscapes ranging from forest jungles to dry steppe and salt flats. The diversity also places the country in a uniquely precarious position with changing temperatures and climate change. In turn community organizations are undertaking initiatives to mitigate the impact and support communities that rely on their surrounding environment for their food and water security.

Students on this placement in Bolivia will be working with Oasis Boliviano, a social enterprise just outside the town of Sucre. Organizations such as Oasis Boliviano work with local communities to ensure safe access to food and water while minimizing impact on their own impact on environment. Students will work alongside the organization on community projects that focused on improving drinking water quality in the area and the development of solid waste management strategies.

Accommodations

You will be staying in modest homestay accommodation.

Program Dates

Date Activity
Mar – Apr 2017 Orientation and pre-departure learning sessions (all successful applicants will be expected to be in attendance at all sessions)
Late June – Aug 2017 8 weeks of fieldwork in an International Service Learning placement
Sep/Oct 2017 Re-entry debrief and public engagement presentation on campus

**Please note these dates may be adjusted but will be confirmed prior to offer.

Program Costs

The costs below are per student and are yet to be fully determined, but will be within the following ranges.

Location Program Fee
Bolivia $3,100 – $3,250*

Narrative Documentation and Community Development: Uganda

Program overview

The project is in Uganda, with our community partner, The AIDS Support Organization (TASO). TASO was founded in 1987 to contribute to the process of HIV prevention, education, support, and eradication. TASO supports people living with HIV/AIDS at the personal, family, community, national, and international levels. TASO currently has 11 regional offices across Uganda with its head office located in Kampala.

The overall objective for this project is to collect and write narratives of TASO clients in order to accurately represent the impacts of the organization.  Your work will include working alongside TASO staff to interviewing identified TASO clients, writing, editing and contextualizing the narratives in a way that best meet TASO’s goals for the project.  You will be based at the TASO Mbale regional centre and provide online support to other centres to facilitate the collection of narratives across the organization.

Program dates

Date Activity
Rolling deadline until March 1st, 2015 Application intake and interviews
~ I week after receiving an offer letter Acceptance and deposits are due
March – May 2015 Orientation and pre-departure learning sessions (multiple – approximately 35 hours in total)
June – August 2015 12 week international placement including a facilitated workshop approximately mid-way through
September – October 2015 ISL post-placement reflection sessions and public engagement event

Please note these dates may be adjusted but will be confirmed before you receive an offer of a placement.

This program will close when full. Please apply ASAP to avoid disappointment.

Leading up to your placement (Pre-departure)

Pre-departure learning sessions take place in the term before you leave for your placement; it prepares you for an intensive International Service Learning experience.  During pre-departure you will:

  1. Create a learning & development plan and review with your ISL Advisor
  2. Explore learning topics at regular meetings with your placement team

Accommodations

You will be staying with host families that ISL will arrange through UBC local representatives that work in Uganda. You will live with a community host family in modest accommodations. You will be based in Mbale but may have some short term travel & stay in other towns that have TASO centres. In most cases, you will take public transport to and from your placement.

After you’ve returned (Post-placement)

After you’ve returned, you’ll regroup, reflect and work at unpacking the intensive experience you’ve had.  The schedule of post-placement activities includes:

  1. A full day to debrief with advisors and peers (September 2015)
  2. Presenting at an International Development Symposium (October 2015)

Program cost

We expect the program fee to be approximately $4,000. Fees may be adjusted prior to offer and include:

  • Room and board
  • Pre-departure learning sessions
  • Transportation from the airport to your placement**
  • Orientation in Uganda
  • Debrief and workshop part way through your placement
  • Community partner management fee
  • ISL project management fee

Airfare, visas and vaccinations are not included in the program fee. A return ticket to Uganda costs approximately $2,000–$2,500. You will be required to bring your own laptop.

You will need to arrange your own transportation from the project site back to the airport at the end of the placement.

Application

To apply for a 2015 placement, please submit an online application. Contact an advisor if you have any questions about the program eligibility before applying. The application consists of basic demographic information and essay questions. Set aside at least two hours to complete the application.

Eligibility & Awards

ISL Award – $1,500
If accepted into the ISL program, your eligibility will be automatically assessed for the $1,500 International Service Learning Award. Please follow the link for more information. No separate application is required.

Organizational Planning and Development: South Africa

Program overview

Our community partner in South Africa is Education without Borders, an international NGO that focuses on supporting school age youth in further developing skills and confidence academically, particularly in math and science. This organization was formed in 2002 and seeks to improve educational opportunities and facilities for youth.

Education without Borders’ long term vision is to empower youth through education. They believe that the development of knowledge and skills gives individuals greater control over their lives and more possibilities and choices for their future. Enhanced educational opportunities build communities from within, and facilitate bridging between communities.

The program runs in a township outside of Cape Town, South Africa. You will be working closely with the founders and in country staff of the organization. Examples of possible projects are listed below:

Library Project – This project will be assisting in the transition of library management from Education without Borders to the school administration and new, school-identified, librarian. This project will include strategic and operational thinking about how to effectively manage the transition; research and development of grant and alternative funding streams for upkeep and development of the library, and paying the staff. Other areas of project work may include training the new librarian into new operating system. Ultimately, the project aims to make the library a sustainable program within the school, something that is not common in the area.

In addition to the above project, students will partake in the ongoing library programming such as assisting with the reading and after-school programs which include the African Storybook project. This project aims to develop and foster reading culture by producing literature and documenting traditional stories in local languages.

Community Partnerships – Through this project student will be looking at both strategic and operational plans for extending the organizations reach into the community through the use of partnerships with other NGOs. Students will examine the environment for this initiative by exploring the questions around stakeholder expectations, and strategies on how to actualize the partnerships. Community partnerships are currently among the key activities of the organization and students will be working collaboratively with the program coordinator while working on this initiative. In order to be most effective in the project, it is recommended that the students take part in all aspects of the organization’s programming in order to better understand how the organization runs, and how the partnerships will be most effective. This program will be concentrated in high level organizational and strategic planning with some opportunity for acting on implementation.

In addition to all listed projects, students will also take part in core programs of Education without Borders such as after-school tutoring. Students may also participate in a Monitoring and Evaluation project by supporting the work of a South African institution brought in to externally evaluate the math bridging program.

Program dates

Date Activity
Rolling deadline until March 1st, 2015 Application intake and interviews
One week after receiving an offer letter Acceptance and deposits are due
March – May 2015 Orientation and pre-departure learning sessions
June – August 2015 12 week International placement including a facilitated workshop approximately mid-way through (exact dates TBC)
September – October 2015 ISL Post-placement reflection sessions and International Development Symposium.

Please note these dates may be adjusted but will be confirmed before you receive an offer of a placement.

This program will close when full. Please apply ASAP to avoid disappointment.

Leading up to your placement (Pre-departure)

Pre-departure learning sessions take place in the term before you leave for your placement; it prepares you for an intensive International Service Learning experience.  During pre-departure you will:

  1. Create a learning & development plan and review with your ISL Advisor
  2. Explore learning topics at regular meetings with your placement team

Accommodations

You will be staying in modest host family accommodations. In most cases students will have to take public transportation to and from work.

After you’ve returned (Post-placement)

After you’ve returned, you’ll regroup, reflect and work at unpacking the intensive experience you’ve had.  The schedule of post-placement activities includes:

  1. A full day to debrief with advisors and peers (September 2015)
  2. Presenting at an International Development Symposium (October 2015)

Program cost

We expect the program fee to be approximately $3,900. Fees may be adjusted prior to offer and include:

  • Room and board
  • Pre-departure learning sessions
  • Transportation from the airport to your placement
  • Orientation in host country
  • In Session debrief and workshop
  • Community partner management fee
  • Centre for Community Engagement project management fee

All expenses not covered in program costs are responsibility of the student. Costs not included are airfare, visas, vaccinations, local transportation while in country, transportation from the project site back to the airport at the end of the placement, personal item, and daily incidentals.

Application

To apply for a 2015 placement, please submit an online application. Contact an advisor if you have any questions about the program eligibility before applying. The application consists of basic demographic information and essay questions. Set aside at least two hours to complete the application.

Eligibility & Awards

ISL Award – $1,500
If accepted into the ISL program, your eligibility will be automatically assessed for the $1,500 International Service Learning Award. Please follow the link for more information. No separate application is required.

Health and Community Development: Kenya

Program overview

Carolina for Kibera (CFK) is the community partner for  Health and Community Development in Kenya. CFK is an organization founded in Kibera (a large informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya). Tabitha Clinic is a community-based healthcare facility that is a part of services offered by CFK. CFK is undertaking a number of health initiatives in the area, including a community-based nutrition program based out of the Tabitha Clinic which is intended to lessen levels of malnutrition in targeted communities. The Tabitha Clinic is undertaking this initiative to scale up the nutrition program to an increased number of communities in Kibera, which will include gathering information to understand current levels of malnutrition, WASH practices, and general views on accessing healthcare. This is part of ensuring effective practices are taken into account, understanding opportunities for education and outreach and lessening the levels of malnutrition in communities that are a part of this initiative. You will work alongside CFK staff based out of the Tabitha Clinic on a particular phase of this initiative will be determined depending on the progress of the initiative upon your start date with CFK.

Students interested in this placement should be ready to work in a community that faces extreme poverty. As change in health and social behaviors take time, students should also be prepared to work alongside the organization with the recognition of this process and the long-term goals, rather than expecting to see immediate change.

This organization works on three major areas of development in the community: Heath, Social, and Economic development. Within these areas CFK runs a number of programs, such as a sports association and economic ventures. Depending on the workload of the project, students may also be able to get involved with some of the other programs.

This placement will require a high degree of initiative and problem-solving – you will be given the vision but will need to work closely with CFK staff to figure out how to work toward that vision, with very few resources. Ideally, you will have some experience in assessment methods coupled with self-initiative and problem-solving skills, and a willingness to learn.

This program is open to all UBC Vancouver students. This project requires specialized knowledge and invites applications from candidates in Food Science, Food, Nutrition and Health, Dietetics, Nutritional Sciences, Food Market Analysis and the School of Population and Public Health.

Program dates

Date Activity
September 2014 – December 2014 Application intake rounds
1 week after receiving an offer letter Acceptance and deposits are due
January – April 2015 Orientation and pre-departure learning sessions (multiple sessions – approximately 35 hours in total)
June – August 2015 International placement including a facilitated workshop approximately mid-way through (exact dates TBC)
September – October 2015 ISL Post-placement reflection sessions, International Development Symposium and public engagement event

Please note these dates may be adjusted but will be confirmed before you receive an offer of a placement.

Schedule of intake rounds

Date Application Deadline Interview Date Decision Notification Date
1st intake round September 21, 2014 September 25, 2014 October 3, 2014
2nd intake round October 26, 2014 November 7 or 8, 2014 November 14, 2014
3rd intake round November 16, 2014 November 28 or 29, 2014 December 5, 2014
Rolling Deadline

This program will close when full. Please apply ASAP to avoid disappointment.

Leading up to your placement (Pre-departure)

Pre-departure learning sessions take place in the term before you leave for your placement; it prepares you for an intensive International Service Learning experience. During pre-departure you will:

  1. Create a learning & development plan and review with your ISL Advisor
  2. Explore learning topics at regular meetings with your placement team

Accommodations

You will be staying with host families in modest accommodations. In many cases you will need to take public transportation to reach your work site.

After you’ve returned (Post-placement)

After you’ve returned, you’ll regroup, reflect and work at unpacking the intensive experience you’ve had. The schedule of post-placement activities includes:

  1. A full day to debrief with advisors and peers (September 2015)
  2. Presenting at an International Development Symposium (October 2015)

Program cost

We expect the program fee to be approximately $3,900. Fees may be adjusted prior to offer and include:

  • Room and board
  • Pre-departure learning sessions
  • Transportation from the airport to your placement
  • Orientation in Kenya
  • Debrief and workshop part way through your placement
  • Community partner management fee
  • ISL project management fee

Airfare, visas and vaccinations are not included in the program fee. A return ticket to Kenya costs approximately $2,000–$2,500. You will be required to bring your own laptop.

You will need to arrange your own transportation from the project site back to the airport at the end of the placement

Application

To apply for a 2015 placement, please submit an online application. Contact an advisor if you have any questions about the program eligibility before applying. The application consists of basic demographic information and essay questions. Set aside at least two hours to complete the application.

Eligibility & Awards

ISL Award – $1,500
If accepted into the ISL program, your eligibility will be automatically assessed for the $1,500 International Service Learning Award. Please follow the link for more information. No separate application is required.

Social Programming & Community Development: Kenya

When applying please note your preference for the Social Programming & Community Development program.

Program dates

Date Activity
September 21st, 2014 Final application deadline
October – December, 2014 Orientation and pre-departure learning sessions (multiple sessions—approximately 35 hours in total)
January – April, 2015 12 week international placement, including a facilitated workshop approximately mid-way through
April – June, 2015 ISL post-placement reflection sessions and public engagement event

 

Program overview

This placement in Nairobi, Kenya is with our community partner Carolina For Kibera (CFK). CFK is an organization established and run in Kibera (a large informal settlement of Nairobi, Kenya). CFK runs numerous programs in and around Kibera  which focus on economic development, social support, and health programming in collaboration with a local clinic. Students will work alongside CFK staff on programming  focused on the empowerment of girls in the community.

Students interested in this placement should be ready to work in a community that faces extreme poverty. As change in health and social behaviors take time, students should also be prepared to work alongside the organization with the recognition of this process and the long-term goals, rather than expecting to see immediate change.

Depending on the workload of the project, students may also be able to get involved with some of  CFK’s other programs.

This placement will require a high degree of initiative and problem-solving – you will be given the vision but will need to work closely with CFK staff to figure out how to work toward that vision, with very few resources. Ideally, you will have some experience in assessment methods coupled with self-initiative and problem-solving skills, and a willingness to learn!

Leading up to your placement (Pre-departure)

Pre-departure learning sessions take place in the term before you leave for your placement; it prepares you for an intensive International Service Learning experience.  During pre-departure you will:

  1. Create a learning & development plan and review this with your ISL Advisor
  2. Explore learning topics at regular meetings with your placement team

Accommodations

You will be staying in modest host family accommodations.

After you’ve returned (Post-placement)

After you’ve returned, you’ll regroup, reflect and work at unpacking the intensive experience you’ve had.  The schedule of post-placement activities includes:

  • A debrief with advisors and peers (January 2015)
  • Presenting at a Public Engagement event (February 2015)

Program cost

We expect the program fee to be approximately $3,800*. Fees include:

  • Room and board
  • Pre-departure learning sessions
  • Transportation to and from your placement**
  • Orientation in Kenya
  • Debrief and workshop part way through your placement
  • Community partner management fee
  • ISL project management fee

Airfare, visas and vaccinations are not included in the program fee. A return ticket to Kenya costs approximately $2,000 – $2,500. You will be required to bring your own laptop.

*Fees may be adjusted prior to offer
**You will also need to arrange your own transportation from the project site back to the airport at the end of the placement

Awards

If accepted into the ISL program, you will be automatically assessed for the $1,500 International Service Learning Award.

Ecological Sustainability: Costa Rica

When applying please note your preference for the Conservation and Community Development program.

Program overview

Our community partner for environmentally focused programs in Costa Rica is ASVO (Asociación de Voluntarios para el Servicio en las Áreas Protegidas). Costa Rica has over 160 parks and wildlife refuges, which are habitats for many endangered species. With such a large area of the country needing protection, and few resources to support this effort, ASVO was formed to recruit local and international volunteers to assist local leaders in activities in four major areas: control, protection, environmental education,  and research. ASVO focuses on conservation projects in Costa Rica’s National Park system, as well as in coastal-marine areas that do not hold any official category of protection from the Ministry of Environment, but that are natural nesting sites for endangered sea turtle species.  ASVO works as a bridge between civil society and the protected areas, engaging people in responsible actions in the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of Costa Rica.

You will be working at the ASVO project site in Montezuma, which is a small town located on the Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific coast.  The Montezuma beach is an important sea turtle nesting beach, but activity on the beach, i.e. bonfires and vehicles, pose a risk to the turtles.  The town’s bustling seasonal tourism sector has resulted in an increase in risks to nesting sea turtles and the local economy being heavily reliant on that tourism, making them vulnerable to ‘high’ and ‘low’ season fluctuations.

The long-term priority at the ASVO Montezuma site is to reduce the impacts of tourism on sea turtles. ASVO is currently pursuing an eco-tourism project by developing a social enterprise based in the town of Montezuma.  The social enterprise will be locally-administered and offer an income-generating opportunity for residents in the community to be trained, certified and employed as guides on sea turtle night patrols, which will be marketed as eco-tourism.  The night patrols will also increase economic activity in the area during ‘low season’, which is concurrent to nesting season, and function to facilitate awareness among local businesses and tourists about endangered sea turtles.  This work will be in the later stages of development and your work may include aspects of implementation, further community adoption initiatives, monitoring and evaluation for the effectiveness amongst other duties. Earlier phases included collecting information to determine the management strategy for the social enterprise, liaising with local businesses, and identifying the skills and abilities necessary for the guide training program.  Your scope of work will be identified with ASVO head biologist, Roberto Solano, however you will need to demonstrate a high degree of initiative in problem-solving, communication, and collaborating with various stakeholders both in Montezuma and at the ASVO head office.  You can also expect to participate in some activities related to the hatchery – building/repairing the hatchery, night patrols, etc. Ideally, you will have some experience, a passion for environmental conservation, self-initiative and problem-solving skills, and a willingness to learn!

Leading up to your placement (Pre-departure)

Pre-departure learning sessions take place in the term before you leave for your placement; it prepares you for an intensive International Service Learning experience.  During pre-departure you will:

  1. Create a learning & development plan and review with your ISL Advisor
  2. Explore learning topics at regular meetings with your placement team

Accommodations

You will be staying in modest hostel-style accommodations with other ASVO volunteers. These accommodations are located on ASVO’s project sites, which are located within or near protected areas, beaches, and parks. Some project sites are located within reasonable distances to small towns.

After you’ve returned (Post-placement)

After you’ve returned, you’ll regroup, reflect, and work at unpacking the intensive experience you’ve had.  The schedule of post-placement activities includes:

  1. A debrief with advisors and peers (April  2015)
  2. Presenting at a Public Engagement event (May-June 2015)

Program cost

We expect the program fee to be approximately $3,900* Fees include:

  • Room and board
  • Pre-departure learning sessions
  • Transportation from the airport to your placement site**
  • Orientation in Costa Rica
  • Debrief and workshop part way through your placement
  • Re-entry debrief and public engagement facilitation
  • Community partner management fee
  • ISL program management fee

Airfare, visas and vaccinations are not included in the program fee. A return ticket to Costa Rica costs approximately $1,000 – $1,500. You will be required to bring your own laptop.

*Fees may be adjusted prior to offer
**You will also need to arrange your own transportation from the project site back to the airport at the end of the placement.

Awards

If accepted into the ISL program, your eligibility will be automatically assessed for the $1,500 International Service Learning Award.

Environmental Restoration and Community Development: Mexico (Reading Week)

When applying please note your preference for the Reading Week program, Environmental Restoration and Community Development: Mexico.

Program dates

Date Activity
January – February, 2017 Orientation and pre-departure learning sessions
February 18 – 26, 2017 International placement in Mexico, exact dates may vary depending on flight availability
March 2017 Post-placement reflection sessions and public engagement event

Please note these dates may be adjusted but will be confirmed before you receive an offer of a placement.

Eligibility

Open to all UBC Vancouver students.

Program overview

Up to 20 students have the opportunity to explore the learning theme of Environmental Restoration and Community Development by participating in an International Service-Learning (ISL) placement in Mexico during Reading Week in February 2017. You will also participate in pre-departure learning sessions; facilitated reflection; and post-placement activities as part of this program.

You will travel as a group to work alongside Tsomanotik on projects in Chiapas, Mexico. Your experience will be led by UBC facilitators and Tsomanotik staff who have expertise in solidarity issues in Mexico. You will engage as a group in a hands-on service project while learning about the issues related to solidarity with marginalized groups in the Chiapas area through daily learning activities and facilitated reflection. The program will also include learning activities and dialogue with local organizations and activists.

Community partner

UBC students will work and learn with our community partner, Tsomanotik, a non-governmental organization in Mexico’s Chiapas state.

Tsomanotik is an eco-agricultural centre for just and sustainable community development, as well as projects for youth and community solidarity. Tsomanotik exists in harmony with nature and promotes social responsibility through alternative natural construction techniques, appropriate technology, and organic agriculture. Tsomanotik also engages in solidarity activities with the local community – for example, supporting a local children’s home. Their vision is for solidarity and a more just society where marginalized groups in Chiapas are heard and play an active role in the community development process.

Community placement

For over three years Tsomanotik has been doing research in waste management and sanitation in Chiapas, Mexico with the goal of increasing the quality of life in rural parts of Mexico while mitigating the environmental impact of human activities through sustainable development and alternative technologies.  Several communities in Chiapas face scarce access to water and wastewater treatment facilities are not readily accessible which impacts health outcomes in communities.

Tsomanotik has developed and implemented technologies to support the implementation of dry toilets, composting and eco-building techniques in Chiapas, and in the process are proposing an alternative way of life that has the potential to help residents move beyond the lack of physical infrastructure in their communities.  You will work hands-on alongside Tsomanotik and local community members to construct dry toilets and composting plots that will be used to increase the infrastructure in the community and to further promote eco-technologies within the community, which is part of laying the groundwork to support organic agriculture, environmental education and human rights in the community.

Leading up to your placement (Pre-departure)

Pre-departure learning sessions take place in the weeks before you leave for your placement; it prepares you for an intensive International Service Learning experience. During pre-departure you will explore learning topics at regular meetings with your placement team.

Living environment

You will stay at the Tsomanotik eco-agricultural centre, in basic hostel-like accommodation with bunk beds in shared rooms. The project location is about 30 minutes from the town of Comitan in the Chiapas state of Mexico.

After you’ve returned (Post-placement)

After you’ve returned, you’ll regroup, reflect and work at unpacking the intensive experience you’ve had. The post-placement activities you will participate in include;

  • A debrief with advisors and peers
  • Presentation at a public engagement event

Program cost

We expect the program fee to be approximately $2,200 – $2,550*. Fees include:

  • Pre-departure learning sessions
  • Room and board
  • Return flight**
  • Local transportation
  • Professional advisors
  • Reflection materials
  • Community partner management fee
  • ISL project management fee

*Fees will be confirmed upon placement offer. The variable cost of the program is due to price fluctuations with flight bookings.
** If you are not travelling on a Canadian or American passport, please be aware that most flights are booked through the United States and may require you to have a transit visa.
***Visas and vaccinations are not included in the program fee.

Applying to International Service Learning (ISL)

To apply for a Reading Week 2017 placement, please submit an online application. Contact an advisor beforehand if you have any questions about the program or your eligibility before applying.

Sustainability and Conservation International Service Learning: Costa Rica (Reading Week)

When applying please note your preference for the Reading Week program, Sustainability and Conservation.

Date Activity
January – February, 2017 Orientation and pre-departure learning sessions
February 18 – 26, 2017 International placement in Costa Rica, exact dates may vary depending on flight availability
March 2017 Post-placement reflection sessions and public engagement event

Please note these dates may be adjusted but will be confirmed before you receive an offer of a placement.

Eligibility

Open to all UBC Vancouver students.

Program overview

You will have the opportunity to explore the learning theme of sustainability and conservation by participating in a International Service-Learning (ISL) placement in Costa Rica during Reading Week in February 2014. You will also participate in pre-departure learning sessions; a facilitated reflection; and post-placement activities as part of this program.

You will travel as a group to work alongside ASVO (Asociación de Voluntarios para el Servicio en las Áreas Protegidas) on projects in Costa Rica. Led by UBC facilitators and a local Costa Rican biologist, Roberto Solano Cordero, ISL participants will engage as a group in a hands-on service project which contributes to the goals of the organization. You will learn about approaches to conservation and sustainability as well as ecological systems of the local area through daily facilitated discussions. The program will also include a day trip to a National Park with a very diverse ecosystem.

Community partner

Our community partner in Costa Rica is  ASVO (Asociación de Voluntarios para el Servicio en las Áreas Protegidas). Costa Rica has over 160 parks and wildlife refuges, which are habitats for many endangered species. ASVO is dedicated to protecting endangered species and biodiversity, and to decreasing the impacts can have on the environment. Students will work on an ecological service project alongside Roberto Solano Cordero, the Coordinator of Scientific Research for ASVO and is a biologist and educator. He oversees projects in sea turtle conservation, ecology and biological management. Roberto has also worked for the National Maritime Patrol, the National Coast Guard Service, the Ministry of Education and non-governmental organizations dedicated to conservation.

Community placement

Project Site – Quelonios
Quelonios is on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica in a remote setting accessed by boat through local canals, resting right on the edge of the ocean.  The Protection, Conservation and Ecological Education Station at Quelonios del Caribe works with three species of marine turtles (Leatherback, Carey’s and Green) that nest on the Caribbean beaches and are in danger of extinction. Students will benefit from exposure to the site’s rich biodiversity as well as exploring ASVO’s efforts to redefine how the local population interacts with their native ecosystem.  Students should note that it is HIGHLY unlikely to see a turtle at this point in the season, but important work is done on site to prepare the turtles to be able to safely lay eggs.

One of the goals of ASVO is to make the station as self-sustainable as possible, in order to reduce impacts on the local habitat and provide a model for nearby communities and international volunteers. You will contribute to this goal by helping to build a greenhouse on the site to assist in reducing the need to bring in outside sources of food to the site and increase the diversity of plant species (vegetables) available for local consumption.  The greenhouse will be constructed to allow photosynthesis of particular plants, while providing shade to others and will function as a prototype to transfer this technology into the surrounding community.  The greenhouse will incorporate hydro-technology and will use local plants and vegetation as materials to construct the greenhouse (ex. bamboo). You should expect hands-on work, manual labour, and the need to problem-solve in the field. The service project will be guided by biologist Roberto Solano.

Leading up to your placement (Pre-departure)

Pre-departure learning sessions take place in the weeks before you leave for your placement; it prepares you for an intensive International Service Learning experience.  During pre-departure you will explore learning topics at regular meetings with your placement team.

Living environment

You will stay in modest and rustic hostel-style accommodation with shared bedrooms with bunk beds. The project site will be in a remote community.

After you’ve returned (Post-placement)

After you’ve returned, you’ll regroup, reflect and work at unpacking the intensive experience you’ve had. The post-placement activities you will participate in include;

  • A debrief with advisors and peers
  • Presentation at a public engagement event

Program cost

We expect the program fee to be approximately $2,200 – $2,650*. Fees include

  • Pre-departure learning sessions
  • Room and board
  • Return flight
  • Local transportation
  • Professional advisors
  • Reflection materials
  • Community partner management fee
  • ISL project management fee

*Fees will be confirmed upon placement offer. The variable cost of the program is due to price fluctuations with flight bookings.
*students will automatically be assessed for a $500 ISL Award to offset program costs.

Visas and vaccinations are not included in the program fee.

Am I eligible for the International Service Learning Award?

If accepted in to the ISL program you will be automatically assessed for eligibility for the $500 International Service Learning Award.  You’re eligible if you:

  1. Successfully completed at least 18 credits in the Winter Session prior to the program*
  2. Achieved 70% or higher on your best 18 credits in the session prior to the program
  3. Have no failed or incomplete courses during the Winter Session prior to the program

*Students in their first year of study during the 2014 – 2015 Winter Session will be assessed based on 9 credits during term 1

Migration, Justice and Human Rights: Mexico (Reading Week)

When applying please note your preference for the Reading Week program, Migration, Justice and Human Rights.

Program dates

Date Activity
January – February, 2015 Orientation and pre-departure learning sessions
February 14 – 22, 2015 International placement in Mexico, exact dates may vary depending on flight availability
March 2015 Post-placement reflection sessions and public engagement event

Please note these dates may be adjusted but will be confirmed before you receive an offer of a placement.

Eligibilty

All UBC Vancouver students are welcome to apply.

Program overview

Up to 20 students have the opportunity to explore the learning theme of migration, justice and human rights by participating in an International Service Learning (ISL) placement in Mexico during Reading Week in February 2015. You will also participate in pre-departure learning sessions; facilitated reflection; and post-placement activities as part of this program.

You will travel as a group to work alongside Tsomanotik on projects in Chiapas, Mexico. Your experience will be led by UBC facilitators, Tsomanotik staff and a facilitator with expertise in migration issues in Mexico and globally. You will engage as a group in a hands-on service project while learning about the issues related to migration, justice and human rights through daily learning activities and facilitated reflection. The program will also include learning activities and dialogue with local organizations and activists.

Community partner

We have been working closely with Ana Elena Barrios to develop and facilitate this program. Ana Elena has an extensive background in working on issues related to migration, and has been working in Chiapas since 2009. She brings a passion for social justice and human rights related to migration, along with her expertise and experience. Our community partner for this experience is Tsomanotik. Tsomanotik is an eco-agricultural demonstration centre for just and sustainable community development. Their vision is for solidarity and a more just society where marginalized groups in Chiapas are heard and play an active role in the community development process. Ana Elena and Tsomanotik are excited to work with UBC students on the critical issues of migration, justice and human rights.

Community Placement

Patterns of human migration play a key role in shaping the lives of people in Chiapas and the development of the State. Conversely, the historical and current economic and political situation of Chiapas in Mexico has greatly influenced migration patterns. Chiapas is a destination for migrants from Central America searching for economic opportunity in the state, and as a route to travel through to the United States and Canada. Migration from Chiapas – to destinations within and outside of Mexico – has also been increasing since the early nineties in Chiapas. There are many community organizations working in Chiapas on key issues related to migration. Tsomanotik and other organizations are also working to combat some of the ‘push’ factors that contribute to people choosing to emigrate by working with communities to create sustainable alternatives.

You will be working on a project in Comitan, a small city in Chiapas about 30 minutes from Tsomanotik. The Migrant’s Commission, a  group of concerned citizens and faith-based groups, have decided to build a ‘migrant’s house’ in Comitan – a shelter for migrants making the dangerous journey from Central America through Mexico to the United States and Canada. You will work alongside the Migrant’s Commission assisting with a hands-on project to advance the safety and security of migrants who are staying at the migrant’s house. Previous projects have included work at the Migrant’s House including building sections of the house and painting projects.

Leading up to your placement (Pre-departure)

Pre-departure learning sessions take place in the weeks before you leave for your placement; it prepares you for an intensive International Service Learning experience.  During pre-departure you will explore learning topics at regular meetings with your placement team.

Living environment

You will stay at the Tsomanotik eco-agricultural centre, in very basic hostel-like accommodation with bunk beds in shared rooms. The project location is about 30 minutes from the town of Comitan in the Chiapas state of Mexico.

After you’ve returned (Post-placement)

After you’ve returned, you’ll regroup, reflect and work at unpacking the intensive experience you’ve had.  The post-placement activities you will participate in include;

  • A debrief with advisors and peers
  • Presentation at a public engagement event

Program cost

We expect the program fee to be approximately $2,200 – $2,550*. Fees include:

  • Pre-departure learning sessions
  • Room and board
  • Return flight
  • Local transportation
  • Professional advisors
  • Reflection materials
  • Community partner management fee
  • ISL project management fee

*Fees will be confirmed upon placement offer. The variable cost of the program is due to price fluctuations with flight bookings.
* students will automatically be assessed for a $500 ISL Award to offset program costs.
** If you do not have a Canadian or American passport, please be aware that most flights will be booked through the United States and may require you to have a transit visa.

Visas and vaccinations are not included in the program fee.

Am I eligible for the International Service Learning Award?

If accepted in to the ISL program you will be automatically assessed for eligibility for the $500 International Service Learning Award.  You’re eligible if you:

  1. Successfully completed at least 18 credits in the Winter Session prior to the program*
  2. Achieved 70% or higher on your best 18 credits in the session prior to the program
  3. Have no failed or incomplete courses during the Winter Session prior to the program

*Students in their first year of study during the 2014 – 2015 Winter Session will be assessed based on 9 credits during term 1