Photo by Cara Starnbach, North India Summer Program.

Posts Tagged:

Global Citizenship

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    [post_date] => 2018-08-07 16:01:32
    [post_date_gmt] => 2018-08-07 22:01:32
    [post_content] => 
This week, at Boulder HQ, we're passing around this poem written by our Summer 2018 Guatemala Instructor, Raquel Wigginton.  And we are collectively, sighing...


We have journeyed
into a history
as dark as
the depths of Lake
Atitlán—el más profundo
de las Américas
The depths have
felt overwhelming but
necessary as the reminder
of the pain that lives
in each of our bloodlines
the bones that hold us
up like a ladder
are dense with the
memories of time
and are buried
in the soil we
occupy with strong
and reaching raíces.

Roots we need to
continue to explore
in all directions.

We have ventured
into the verdant lands
of Guatemala—land of trees
and like the Lorax
we must be careful
of the greed and power
that run like currents
of flames in our
nation’s veins
We must tell the story
of deforestation, of
pollution, of dwindling
natural resources before
it’s too late
We must plant the seed
that will revive the
forests and inspire
the birds of the
trees to keep on singing
We must care
and maintain the
precious seedlings
of our siembra and
never give up.

You are the seeds
of the trees that
will grow into
grandes problemáticas
or soluciones transformativas.
We want to sew
the fruits of our
labor of love
During our adventure
the garden of love
has been planted
let’s see what it’s
beauty holds and who
will hold it up to
the light that
illumines dialogue
and understanding,
patience and tolerance,
caring and challenge.
Raíces profundas y duraderas.




Be sure to head over to Raquel's blog for more.

    [post_title] => A Poem by Raquel Wigginton, Guatemala Instructor from Summer 2018
    [post_excerpt] => This week, at Boulder HQ, we're passing around this poem written by our Summer 2018 Guatemala Instructor, Raquel Wigginton.  And we are collectively, sighing... 
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    [post_date] => 2018-06-21 12:52:46
    [post_date_gmt] => 2018-06-21 18:52:46
    [post_content] => 
Our All-Staff training is currently in progress in the Sierras of California. Most of Dragons Admin and Staff are at camp, so thanks for your patience if you've reached out to us, and here's a few images from the site in the meantime...













Watch our Instagram feed for more images from our All-Staff Training and re-posted images from the field as our summer abroad programs begin to head abroad next week!

    [post_title] => A Glimpse of Dragons Instructor Training Camp
    [post_excerpt] => Our All-Staff training for Dragons Instructors is currently in progress in the Sierras of California. Here's a few images from our camp while we're out of the office! 
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    [post_date] => 2018-06-07 12:32:38
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    [post_content] => Dragons Staff Training

120+ people from 19+ countries are now officially en route to California for our annual two weeks of staff training in the Sierras of California. It’s MAGIC. Pictured, Babacar Mbaye offering some opening words in Wolof from a past year. (Photo Credits @pnomadism) Wish us all luck and look for more photos from our training under the hashtag #wheretherebedragons on Instagram. And if you’re joining us this summer as a participant, we can’t wait to meet and adventure with you!

Follow Dragons Instagram Feed

 

 
    [post_title] => Dragons Staff Training: 120+ People, 19+ Countries, 1 Magical Campground
    [post_excerpt] => 120+ people from 19+ countries are now officially en route to California for our annual two weeks of staff training in the Sierras of California. It’s MAGIC. Wish us all luck and look for more photos from our instructor training at #wheretherebedragons on Instagram...
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    [post_date] => 2018-05-16 09:37:05
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We are so excited for our current #worldofdragons instagram takeover hosted by a very special and multi-talented member of Dragons community: Christy Sommers. For those who don’t know her, you’re in for a treat. Here’s her introduction and one of her images and captions from the week. Head over to Dragons Instagram feed to see the rest!

“I’m Christy (@talkingcentipede), and I led my first Dragons program nearly a decade ago—the first ever West Africa semester in Senegal and Guinea in the fall of 2008. At the time, I thought it would just be a one-off experience, and that I would then go into the career in international education policy that I had been planning on. Why am I still here? Well, the shortest answer to that question is Liz Connor and Mbouillé Diallo, my co-instructors on that fateful first course. Liz and Mbouillé modeled a life approach centered around building compassion and connection and a deep understanding of the world. Learning alongside our awesome group of students, the course of my life shifted in a new direction. I fell in love with experiential, cross-cultural education as a means of constantly learning about and engaging with some of the most fascinating places in the world. Since then, I’ve worked for Dragons as an instructor on our courses in Senegal, Madagascar, Rwanda, India, and Nepal, and as an administrator in the Dragons office managing programs in those countries.”

Here's Christy's fourth posted image and story behind it:



Captioned: "Dragons student Felicia Jing learns how to weave tradition baskets on our course in Rwanda in 2013. Over the course of those 6 weeks, we explored 3 national parks, climbed up a 12,000 foot volcano, gawked at Rwanda’s spectacular wildlife and beautiful vistas, spent time in a rural homestay in my co-instructor’s home village, heard the stories of Congolese refugees, participated in Rwanda’s monthly community work day, visited NGOs working on everything from wildlife conservation to peace and conflict resolution, and so much more. After all of this exploring and learning, there was a lot to reflect on. Each of our students remarked that Rwanda wasn’t like they had expected; there is just so much more nuance than we are able to imagine before we experience a place first-hand. Even my Rwandan co-instructor remarked that working as a Dragons instructor has changed his perceptions and understanding of his own country through facilitating learning for our student groups." *This is the fourth post of the #worldofdragons takeover by @talkingcentipede.

Head over to Dragons Instagram feed to see more posts by Christy Sommers!

    [post_title] => Christy Sommer's Takeover of Dragons Instagram Feed
    [post_excerpt] => We are so excited for our current #worldofdragons instagram takeover hosted by a very special and multi-talented member of Dragons community: Christy Sommers. For those who don’t know her, you’re in for a treat. Here’s her introduction and one of her images and captions from the week...
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    [post_date] => 2018-05-02 07:37:25
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    [post_content] => Hopefully by now you know that Dragons offers travel programs for Teachers, Administrators, and Faculty? Our Educator Courses immerse participants in hands-on exploration of global issues, while training to key skills in program leadership. Learn about our programs for 2018/19 via this handy, flip-able, sharable, Educator Course Catalog!





    [post_title] => Dragons Educator Courses for Teachers, Administrators, and Faculty
    [post_excerpt] => Hopefully by now you know that Dragons offers travel programs for Teachers, Administrators, and Faculty? Our Educator Courses immerse participants in hands-on exploration of global issues, while training to key skills in program leadership. Learn about our programs for 2018/19 via this handy, flip-able, sharable, Educator Course Catalog...
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    [post_date] => 2018-04-24 10:31:45
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    [post_content] => [caption id="attachment_152952" align="alignnone" width="1510"] Photo by Teresa Tolo, South America Semester.[/caption]

The struggle for the recognition and acceptance of black, African-descendent communities all over the world is an ongoing challenge. However, the Afro-Bolivian community of Los Yungas proves that communities can join together and share their history and identity through the power of music and dance.

Driving into the North Yungan community of Chijchipa on Saturday afternoon, we could hear the rhythmic beating of drums and passionate singing of the local Afro-Bolivian community that served to welcome guests for the day’s festivities. This was the day of a musical perfomance/exchange between the local community and the Tigers of Africa, a traditional musical group from Senegal. Having spent the past five days embracing Afro-Bolivian culture in the neighboring community of Tocaña, we made the 20 minute drive to Chijchipa to take part in the important cultural exchange.

‘Honor y gloria a los primeros negros que llegaron a Bolivia


Que murieron trabajando


muy explotados en el Cerro Rico de Potosi’


‘Honor and glory to the first Africans who arrived in Bolivia


Who died working


Exploited in the Cerro Rico of Potosi’

These were the words sang by the men, women and children of all ages who participated in the Saya, the Afro-Bolivian song and dance that incorporates African instruments, colonial-era clothing and powerful lyrics that share the Afro-Bolivian history. These lyrics have been passed down from generation to generation ever since the Afro-Bolivians arrived from Africa as slaves to work in the mines and coca plantations of Bolivia.

These lyrics have been passed down from generation to generation ever since the Afro-Bolivians arrived from Africa as slaves to work in the mines and coca plantations of Bolivia.

[caption id="attachment_152953" align="alignleft" width="300"] Photo by Teresa Tolo, South America Semester.[/caption]

Along with several performances of the Saya, we also had the chance to hear from Alejandro, an important elder who was born towards the end of the hacienda (estates or plantations owned by the Spanish colonists)  and had witnessed the transition into freedom for his people. The festival took place in the Casa de Hacienda, the former residence of one of the plantation owners in the 1800s that now serves as a meeting point and cultural center for the community. Alejandro expressed how important it is for people to recognize how the suffering of the Afro-Bolivians took place in this same location yet they have been able to look past its exploitative history and use the space to exhibit their culture and educate others of the history.

[caption id="attachment_152955" align="alignright" width="294"] Photo by Teresa Tolo, South America Semester.[/caption]

Around 6 PM, the guests of honored arrived after a long journey from Senegal that same morning and were already in song and dance as they marched into the Casa de Hacienda with the local Saya group. After taking an hour to rest and prepare, the Tigers of Africa took the stage draped in their colorful, intricate costumes to begin their performance. The fast rhythm of the traditional drums complimented the movements of the dancers who jumped, ran, flipped and twisted around.

Although the performance was only 30 minutes long, the whole crowd was profoundly impressed. Afterwards, everyone had a chance to chat with the performers who are currently on a tour throughout South America. Although there was a struggle for communication between the Spanish-speaking locals and the French/Wolof-speaking Senegalese performers, both parties were elated to interact with their African brothers and sisters. This also gave me an opportunity to use my knowledge of French and Spanish to translate between them.

Our time spent in Los Yungas with the Afro Bolivian communities was an incredible, unforgettable experience. Everywhere I went the people referred to me as ‘family’ and expressed how happy they were to have their African sister visiting the community. Having based my ISP (Independent Study Project) on the Afro-Bolivian history and culture while in our Tiquipaya homestays, travelling to Los Yungas was an opportunity to immerse myself first-hand into the culture I had read and heard so much about.

[caption id="attachment_152951" align="alignleft" width="343"] Photo by Teresa Tolo, South America Semester.[/caption]

The struggle for the recognition and acceptance of black, African-descendent communities all over the world is an ongoing challenge. However, the Afro-Bolivian community of Los Yungas proves that communities can join together and share their history and identity through the power of music and dance.

Read more student reflections from the South America Semester on Dragons Yak Board. 

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