Duration

11 Days

Description

An experiential intensive for administrators and educators on best practices in international service learning.

Dates

Mar 23 - Apr 2, 2019

Suggested Ages

All ages

Number of Participants

Availability

Closed

Tuition

$2,495

Estimated Flight Cost

$1,650

SIEM REAP

BATTAMBANG

PHNOM PENH

KEP

Program Overview

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 the course is the philosophy of “learning…

A central theme of the 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”.

TOPICS INCLUDE:

Learning Service: Increasing numbers of young people are looking for outlets for “doing good in the world”, but in traditional service-learning experiences, who is serving who? This course dives deep into the philosophy of “learning service” that Dragons has as a core component in all its programs, exploring how successful service to others rests on how open you are to learning prior to and during any time spent volunteering. Course instructor Claire has recently published a widely-acclaimed book exploring the topic and she is excited to share her findings with you.

Sustainable Development: Visiting sites known for achievement and ignominy, and meeting with forward thinking intellectuals, grassroots aid workers, and local community leaders, we develop an understanding of the historical, cultural, and philosophical underpinnings that contextualize Cambodia’s sustainable development efforts, while exploring the complexities surrounding the mechanics of global aid.

Democracy in Action: From the bustling streets of Phnom Penh, lined with historical monuments, Buddhist Pagodas and peaceful cafes, to the tranquil countryside dotted with ancient temples, the Dragons professional educator program meets with warm and generous people who are devoting their lives to constructive change from the bottom up instead of a top down approach.

Global Citizenship & Leadership: We have designed a global leadership curriculum and a toolkit of activities to develop the best in our students as informed, courageous, and empathetic leaders. We are excited to share what we have learned about creating excellent global programming that lasts beyond a single service experience and beyond the tenure of a single, energetic teacher.

LOCAL PARTNERS INCLUDE:

PEPY: The organization’s founder, Daniela Papi, is a veteran Dragons instructor and the co-founder of Learning Service along with Claire. PEPY’s goal is to empower the next generation of Cambodians by connecting them to the skills, systems, and inspiration necessary to achieve their goals, raise standards of living, and improve the quality of education in their communities.

Friends International: A social enterprise building a future for the most marginalized youth and their families. A strong advocate on the dangers of “voluntourism”, they have spoken out against the harm caused by unskilled volunteering working with vulnerable children.

Epic Arts: This is an international, inclusive education and arts organization that uses the arts as a form of expression and empowerment to bring people with and without disabilities together.

Trapeang Sankae: A community project founded by a group of fishermen looking to protect their coastline from corporate land-grabbing, they have now reforested hundreds of hectares of mangroves and are leading the fight against climate change.

Chambok Community Ecotourism: In the heart of Kirirom National Park, this community protects their forests through offering sustainable tourism.

Testimonials

“I started off this course thinking that global education was a small part of what I do as a teacher – I have left knowing that it is the core of everything.”
Ashley Kaplan Cambodia Educator: Learning Service

“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

Cambodia Educator

Learning Service

A 10-Day Seminar for Educators