This summer, Katherine Coleman '16 implemented an art curriculum at The Bridge of Life at the Tramneak Pagoda in Siem Reap, Cambodia. With her students - primarily Buddhist monks and local children from the nearby village – she explored self-expression and the potential of art to be everywhere. They focused on what became a sort of class motto: "There is no right answer, and everything can be beautiful."
"This was the hardest ten weeks of my life, and I wouldn’t trade it for any other ten weeks. I learned more about myself than I ever have in such a condensed period of time. My eyes were opened to my own naivety and to the brutality of a lot of the world, but also to distinct human resilience and joy. Appreciation and humility were redefined in my eyes. I interacted and interpersonally connected with human beings I would never otherwise have come into contact with, children in rural Cambodia who I, painfully, might never see again. But they are in my memory forever, and maybe, if I’m lucky, I’m in theirs. And every moment of it, every sweaty, sickly-sweet, exhausted, teary, smiling moment of it, was phenomenal."
Rubi Duran '16 spent her time working with Alianza Arkana, a non-profit in Pacullpa, Peru that seeks to provide educational, nutritional, and social support the local Shipibo people. Rubi worked with mothers and their children through a program called Grow & Cook, which was created in response to the poor diet and growing nutritional deficiencies and illnesses present in Shipibo and indigenous communities across the Amazon. Together they discussed basic nutrition, cooked together, and helped start a permaculture site where fruits and veggies were planted for the community to share in the future.
"The connection which the Shipibo people have to nature opened my eyes to new perspectives of beauty, health, education, and life in general. I could not be more grateful to have met such amazing individuals."
Sarah Frankl '16 worked at Centro de Obras Sociales Maternidad de Maria in Chimbote, Peru. She spent time working with a nutritionist to develop an educational pamphlet for pregnant women. In addition, she assisted in the outpatient clinic, well-child measurements, and home visits. However, the majority of her time was spent at the Maternidad's orphanage, which was the home to 16 children, all under five. Her best Peruvian friend was two and named Kenlli.
"While on a home visit, the mother we were visiting asked me and the nurse to watch her disabled child while she ran an errand. She came back a few minutes later with juice, snacks, and gifts for us. I was so touched by the generosity with which the Peruvian people received me. I felt as if, simply by watching them, I could learn a bit about how to be a better person."
June Guo '16 spent her summer in Lukwambe Village in Tanzania, working with Ngerengere River Eco Camp. The Eco Camp aims to promote environmental sustainability through education, job training, and eco-conservation projects. During her time there, June developed and taught classes on food culture, agriculture, and first aid for local children and teens. She also led daily exercise classes, which included running, stretching, and laughter yoga. One of June’s favorite projects was establishing experimental organic gardens using recycled materials, local seeds, and water-efficient techniques.
"An hour before school started, students would arrive to carry river water to clean the schoolrooms and bathrooms. The children were the first to arrive and the last to leave the school. Seeing how much the children wanted to be at school really touched me."
Through the non-profit organization Changes for New Hope (CNH), Chris Gys '17 worked with children in communities around Huaraz, Peru. Of CNH's three main emphases – multivitamin distribution, creative expression, and the "Do the right thing" campaign – Chris devoted most of his time to the last of these. He led activities that focused on applying this principle to situations the children would encounter on a daily basis, and he started a soccer program that taught goal-setting and teamwork through practices and games.
"At the end of each soccer game, we would hand out a medal to the "Most Valuable Player" of the day. On one particularly sunny Saturday morning, the MVP was a boy who had shown leadership and hard work. There was something about the smile on his face after receiving the medal that communicated a deeper contentment, something that went beyond the happiness of getting a shiny prize. I'm not sure I can capture entirely what it was, but it made it seem like my presence was something positive in that moment, and that it might remain something positive after I left. With more certainty I can say it seemed to highlight the relationship he and I had built despite vastly different lives."
Erin McKissick '16 worked as a journalist at the social work nonprofit Lha Charitable Trust in Dharamsala, a Tibetan refugee community in northern India. She wrote for their free monthly publication, Contact Magazine, and was their primary news reporter for the upcoming Tibetan parliamentary election. She also volunteered part-time as a childcare assistant at Rogpa, a free daycare for the children of Tibetan refugees.
"During my time in Dharamsala, I witnessed people working on issues that personally affected their lives as Tibetan refugees, and saw how this connection to a cause transformed their work ethic and gave them a remarkable sense of purpose. I was in awe of their passion and determination in a challenging political situation, and I return newly energized to advocate for issues that inspire me."
Lauren Nguyen '17 spent her summer in Rabat, Morocco working with physically and/or mentally handicapped children at the Lalla Meryem Center orphanage through the Moroccan Center for Arabic Studies. She helped with daily tasks such as bathing, changing, feeding, as well as assisting in educational activities. The Lalla Meryem Center also houses newborns, toddlers, and children of all ages.
"I've realized the greater value of spending five minutes to greet someone in passing than being five minutes late. I've discovered that pieces of bread work wonders in comparison to forks and knives. I've grumbled about being woken up by, and now sincerely miss, the 4am call-to-prayer. I am fortunate enough to say I found a second place to call home in the colorful country of Morocco."
Liem Tu '18 spent the summer in Senegal working for Maison de la Gare, a shelter for street boys in the city of Saint-Louis. MDG seeks to improve living conditions by providing water, clothes, food, health care, and education to the boys. Liem taught daily language classes in French and English and organized sports activities at the center.
"I came to Senegal expecting to discover a new culture, gain experience teaching, improve my French, and support a cause that was bigger than me. Looking back on it, I gained so much more from this experience than just achieving those goals. Being exposed to a different way of life and the realities of the non-Western world led me to reflect and reconsider many aspects of my life at home."
Lily Woodward '17 spent 10 weeks in Moshi, Tanzania as an English teacher for an adult women's school, Give a Heart to Africa. This school provides English language, business, and vocational education to local women, catering to those who are single mothers, from minority ethnic groups, or make little to no income. While there, Lily helped develop a recreation program for local children, organized home visits with students, and helped recent grads further develop their businesses.
"This experience was one of the most formative of not only my Bowdoin career, but of my life so far. Though I was there teaching, I so often felt that I was the student - I was continually pushed out of my comfort zone, and while things weren't always perfect, every day was a lesson. Looking back, I am so grateful to have taken the leap to apply for the grant, because I came back to Bowdoin a different person."