Maria Schmeeckle, Sociology & Anthropology; Kara Miller, Sociology; Taylor McCabe, Special Education
What does it mean to approach service learning from a global perspective? If we were to think of groups that might be neglected as service learning target groups, what might they be? How does technology open up new realms of service learning partnerships with far-away populations? How do issues of safety, distance and language limit the kinds of service learning we think about doing? What is Global Children Outreach at ISU? This panel of faculty and students will attempt to answer these challenging questions. They will describe their early attempts to participate in long-distance, international service learning to benefit street children, orphans and highly impoverished children in multiple countries. Starting with one professor serving as a bridge to Project Uerê (“Project Children of Light”); in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, they will also show how an expanding group of faculty, staff and student partners at ISU began to envision, and create, innovative and global service learning and extracurricular outreach projects. This panel hopes to inspire you to get involved with us, or to create long-distance, international service learning projects of your own.
