StFX’s Service Learning Program recently welcomed one of its partners to campus, Maricarmen Valdivieso. the founder and director of Nexos Comunitarios in Pero, who was visiting with university partners in Canada and the U.S.
While at StFX, she met with Immersion Service Learning staff, toured campus and had an opportunity to meet with past program participants as well as the StFX group that will be travelling to Peru in two weeks.
StFX Gerald Schwartz School of Business faculty member Dr. Denton Anthony will lead the StFX immersion trip to Peru over the university’s reading week. The group will travel to Cuncani, a remote community in the Andes, to work on a project called “Kick Off.” Playing, learning and growing is the goal of this initiative, which seeks to improve rural education, generating cognitive and non-cognitive skills through football.
“Building relationships is important for the success of Immersion Service Learning programs and their partner projects. We were pleased to host Maricarmen at StFX, and to discuss the wonderful projects that NEXOS are working and developing on the ground. StFX students have a rare opportunity with this organization, to visit an amazing community and learn about a very different way of life,” says Jodi van Dompseler, Program Assistant with StFX Immersion Service Learning.
Nexos Comunitarios is a Peruvian non-profit civil association, formed by a group of citizens and professionals committed to reducing poverty in isolated communities within Peru, and to promoting a better understanding and respect between different societies and cultures nationally and internationally. Their focus is on sustainable development and implementing community projects related to nutrition, food security, hygiene and elementary education.
Their programs are not volunteer programs. They are learning and service programs that seek to make participants aware of the power they have: to be a link between the community and the rest of the world. Students learn about international development, service, interculturality and addressing poverty.
StFX Immersion Service Learning has partnered with Nexos since 2015.
