
An experiential intensive for administrators and educators on best practices in international service learning.
All ages
Open
$1,650
From acts of genocide and brutal dictatorship to internationally championed strategies for sustainable development and peaceful democracy, few countries so clearly present the range of challenges and potential for humanity as does Cambodia. Our global education professional development course based in Cambodia allows participants to explore topics of democracy, development, and service, and explore what our role is as global citizens. We do this through direct engagement with accomplished development professionals, advocates for social justice, pioneering NGOs, and visionary community leaders. Participants can expect to bring home powerful stories of these concepts in action, and concrete tools and strategies for curriculum back home. Activities include private meetings with internationally recognized development experts, conversations with young Cambodian leaders, and visits to rural communities, including a rural community-stay.
A central theme of this professional development course…
From acts of genocide and brutal dictatorship to internationally championed strategies for sustainable development and peaceful democracy, few countries so clearly present the range of challenges and potential for humanity as does Cambodia. Our global education professional development course based in Cambodia allows participants to explore topics of democracy, development, and service, and explore what our role is as global citizens. We do this through direct engagement with accomplished development professionals, advocates for social justice, pioneering NGOs, and visionary community leaders. Participants can expect to bring home powerful stories of these concepts in action, and concrete tools and strategies for curriculum back home. Activities include private meetings with internationally recognized development experts, conversations with young Cambodian leaders, and visits to rural communities, including a rural community-stay.
A central theme of this professional development course is the philosophy of “learning service”. This approach flips the traditional idea of service learning on its head, ensuring that learning is front and center to any volunteer experience, and that educators and students are equipped to critically examine the global and local structural underpinnings of poverty, inequality and justice. As we journey through Cambodia, we see evidence of voluntourism gone wrong and the damage that can result from poorly managed “good intentions”. We also discuss and experience solutions and strategies for ensuring that learning is the primary objective of all service projects, and that local communities remain empowered to define the scope and nature of community-based projects. Our exploration is enriched by traveling alongside long-time Dragons Instructor, development professional, and author Claire Bennett, who recently published the co-authored book “Learning Service”.
Click on the gallery below to browse photos, videos and quotes from our participants and instructors.
“The Dragons Global Educator program in Cambodia offered me access to people and places I could not have otherwise experienced. Each day we engaged in meaningful human connections and profound experiences that changed the way I will talk about Global Studies at Pingree. Overall the Program was a great success, and one of the best professional development experiences of my life.”
David Medvitz Cambodia Educator: Learning Service
"Their understanding and use of learning methodologies and ability to link us with a number of projects and opportunities to connect with community and students was excellent."
Denise Marika Cambodia Educator: Learning Service
Dragons courses are not about travel or surface exposure to a new culture or country. Rather, they are deep explorations in the complexity of development and of how each of us impacts and can impact our bigger world. They challenge assumptions, forge new visions, and necessarily demand we grow into more aware individuals.
Sumner McCallie Cambodia Educator, 2014