Guatemalan service learning class holds event

Students in a global citizenship course at Grand Valley State University will share their experiences from a recent service-learning trip to Guatemala.

The event, titled “Memory, Truth and Justice: A Benefit for Guatemala,” is Wednesday, August 8, 2007 from 6-9 p.m. at the Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids. The event is open to the public, with a suggested $5 donation at the door. It will include live music, food, information on Guatemalan non-profit organizations, student photography and art exhibits, student documentary screening, and a brief Guatemalan history presentation by GVSU students.

The students in the course took part in a five-week study of the history of Guatemala, globalization, solidarity, sustainability and activism at Grand Valley. Once completed, students traveled to Guatemala in June and spent 16 days meeting with Guatemalan organizations and individuals. There, students delved into history of Guatemala and learned about the role of the U.S. in that history in the hopes of better understanding the current political and economic situation in Guatemala.

This international service learning course was a part of the Liberal Studies and Latin American Studies programs. The course aimed to lead students on a journey from the experience of global problems to reflection and understanding of their role in them, to action and impact, by developing local solutions through service learning. For more information, contact Melissa Baker-Boosamra or Dawn Heartwell with the GVSU Liberal Studies Department at (616) 331-8020.