SIT Study Abroad Alum Continues to Give through the World Learning/SIT Global Reciprocity Fund

Nadine Channaoui attended SIT Study Abroad Bolivia: Culture and Development Program in fall of 2008 and will start her final year at Brandeis University this fall.  She is currently fundraising for her host community in Bolivia through the World Learning/SIT Global Reciprocity Fund. 

SIT Study Abroad’s model of international education is grounded in the host communities and organizations with which they work. To support these communities and partnerships, SIT Study Abroad is expanding efforts to fund local initiatives in healthcare, the environment, education, and more through its new Global Reciprocity Fund.

————-

I was not originally planning on studying abroad in Bolivia.  Honestly, I didn’t even know where Bolivia was when I started browsing through programs.  Early on, I knew that I wanted to go to a Spanish-speaking country.  Later in the search process, I realized that I wanted to go to a developing country.  I was also very drawn to SIT programs as they seemed to add a whole other twist to studying abroad.  When (a friend) mentioned the (Culture and Development) program in Bolivia, I got hooked.  I read about the rich cultures and pressing social issues and knew that Bolivia would offer me a completely different experience from anything I had ever known—which was ultimately exactly what I wanted.

When I arrived in Cochabamba, Bolivia, the city seemed as spunky as its name with its panoramic mountains, colorful buildings, and picturesque plazas…However as I spent more time in the incredibly diverse country, I was gradually introduced to the complexity of its interior: the cracks that needed repairs; the features that, though different from my familiar home, were completely functional; and the differences among various regions, opinions, and cultures that all existed “under the same roof.”

During one of (SIT Study Abroad’s) seminar classes, we had sociology students from a local university visit and we all watched a couple of SIT student-made films about Bolivian migration and had a discussion about the topic afterwards.  One of the films, by Hanna Rosenthal-Fuller, was a series of interviews that discussed what life was like for children and spouses who lived in Bolivia while their family members migrated abroad.  It was a very touching film and really tugged at my heart strings.  I immediately wanted to learn more about the topic and wanted to provide some type of resource for the children. 

I decided to investigate this theme for my Independent Study Project (ISP), a month-long, field-work-based project done at the conclusion of the program. My investigations, which explored the emotional and behavioral effects of children with migrant parents, included volunteer work with an NGO, interviews with professionals, and group charlas (or chats) with Bolivian children who had at least one parent or relative abroad. I was not surprised to find that the children experienced emotional, academic, and responsibility alterations after their parents went abroad; however I was surprised to learn that despite their grief, they often so maturely understood that their parents left to benefit them… I was also aware that children’s literature was hard to come by in Bolivia and wanted to give back to a society that had taught me so much.  Writing a children’s book during my ISP seemed like the perfect solution!

 I hope that my book helps children with migrant parents understand that they are not alone, it is okay to miss their parents, and there are various methods of expressing and coping with their emotions.  At the conclusion of my study abroad experience, I was able to read my book aloud to a small gathering of local children. I’ll never forget their eyes gazing at me and my book as I read a story to which, more than likely, at least one of those ten children could have personally related.  I also hope that the book informs other children and adults around the world about the trend of Bolivian migration and possible emotional repercussions for children.

I learned many lessons from being in Bolivia.  One simple lesson that I learned and now think about on a nearly daily basis is that things aren’t so bad.  Life is so different “on the other side” and if people there (in Bolivia) are alright, I will be alright too.

(My advice) for students about to leave on SIT Study Abroad Programs: dare to be different.  By that, I mean to say challenge yourself to try new things that you never ever imagined you would do.  You’re already going on an incredibly unique program in a foreign country, you might as well make it is whacky, adventurous, and enlightening as possible! 

For the alumni: share, share, share!  It’s easy to fall right back into the fast-paced US American life, but when you share your experiences with others, it gives you a chance not only to remember your incredible experience, but also to educate and inspire others.

Visit Nadine’s fundraising page.

View pictures of Nadine’s experience in Bolivia.