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Goshen College

Service During Summer SST 2024

June 21, 2024

For the Goshen College community, service is accompaniment, “an attempt to walk along-side host nationals and enter (where you can) in their work. Service at this juncture in our history is much more about being than doing. It is about respectfully listening to people and showing genuine interest in their history and culture”. These are Tom Meyers’ words, and they guide how we lead our students during the Service portion of their SST experience here in Ecuador. In response to our reflection prompts, the 2024 summer group expressed that for them Service is: “Apañarse —make do—, sharing, connecting, learning, doing what we can to help, exposure, work, having an open mind, following the Ecuadorian lead, respecting their methods, showing up and being present”. These are the ideas that we shared during our pre-departure conversation, they show how prepared and focused students felt, though they were a bit nervous.

 

We wrote on the board students ideas about Service, though someone was a bit off about the duration of term.

The session at Casa Goshen was quite animated and interesting.

Some small groups got really comfortable during their discussion.
The terrace has a sunny disposition.
Students are very passionate when they talk about their expectations during service.

After a few days on duty, students, host families, and organizations started sending us photos of their work and time together.

Some students tend plants
…and animals.
Help the technical staff in their duties.
Little goats can be cute!
A wheelbarrow is helpful.
Some students are placed as language TAs and spend time with their peers.
At Rimiñahui, students spend time with language faculty.
Those artistically inclined have the chance to produce art!
Classes are fun!
Students have been clearing paths and planting fruit trees to bring pollinators, improve natural beauty, and offset carbon emissions.
Art is all around Service.
They also visited museums.
And hang out outside their host families homes.
They also tend new trees before planting them.
Look, new trees!
Skills development can be fostered during Service.