Advance, Cornell ILR School's publication for alumni and friends.
Issue link: https://advance.epubxp.com/i/132081
Global Service Learning Students gain practical experience, "find meaning in their lives" I n remote areas of India, ILR students are living in tribal communities for two- on practice," said Ramil, who manages ILR service learning in India. Alexa Schwartz '14 worked in a palliative care unit creating training materials for volunteers. "Actually getting to witness firsthand the interplay between health conditions and socioeconomic conditions was something that left a lasting impact on me," Schwartz said. month stretches as they put their education to the test through the school's Global Service Learning program. "For students, it widens the extent and possibility of scholarship; for the hosting international organization, student skills assist in building local communities," said Donna Ramil, associate director of ILR International Programs. "Service learning projects provide for a more educated and informed student who can use this experience to think critically about the theory of an issue, the real-world outcomes and how to change them by hands- 10 Through a partnership with the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, 11 ILR students and six students in Cornell's Global Health minor worked in India in 2012. In 2011, eight ILR students and four Global Health students participated. By 2014, ILR hopes to expand service learning to Zambia in collaboration with the university's Global Health Program, which now offers its courses to ILR students. Mary Lopez '14 and Ashley O'Sullivan '14 helped a hospital that serves tribal people expand, plan for succession, retain employees and develop job descriptions. Dipabali Chowdhury '14 and Felicia Salinas '14 assisted people with disabilities in obtaining jobs. They also wrote a handbook on workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities. ILR's India partner — known as "SVYM" – is a non-profit organization focused on health care, education and advocacy for tribal communities in South India. It was founded and led for two decades by Ramaswami Balasubramaniam. A physician, he was named this year as Cornell's Frank H. T. Rhodes Professor. To prepare for the program, students take language, culture and other workshops on campus before leaving for India. There, they spend two weeks immersed in classwork on labor economics in India, the country's spiritual cultures and other areas. Then, they disperse to rural areas for field work. Expansion of global service learning is a university-wide goal, and ILR's program is considered Cornell's model program, Ramil said. "It's just a fact. ILR, in collaboration with the Global Health Program, is leading the way." Balasubramaniam said students gain practical experience through their India work and also "find meaning in their lives." Photos: Top left – Donna Ramil. Bottom left – Alyssa Esber '13 in India. Top right - Dr. Ramaswami Balasubramaniam. Middle left – Alexa Schwartz '14; Simon Boehme '14; Dipabali Chowdhury '14; Felicia Salinas '14; Ashley O'Sullivan '14 ADVANCE