CCPA 480 - Malawi Study Abroad

Credits: 6

This course provides an opportunity for students of diverse backgrounds and interests to learn about the dynamics of sustainable development with a focus on Malawi in the Southern Region of Africa. In addition to class time in Binghamton, the course involves two weeks in Malawi working closely with a local non-governmental organization, the Malawi Children?s Mission (MCM), and the three rural communities it serves: Mbwana, Jamali, and Mwazama. Originally established as a feeding center for orphaned children, MCM has expanded to provide pre-school and primary education. Approximately 60 children go to school at MCM, receiving a quality of education that cannot be matched by overcrowded local government schools, and over 150 children rely on MCM for their most substantial meal of the day. The children served by MCM are largely those who have been orphaned by AIDS or other circumstances and have endured profound trauma and loss. Malawi is one of the world?s poorest countries, and the highest concentration of its poorest citizens live in the rural areas. Malaria, malnutrition, and HIV infection are endemic, and concerns about substance abuse among youth are prevalent. While the needs are profound, the strengths of the communities are impressive. To support these strengths, the project uses an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach. ABCD was initially developed as an alternative to needs-based approaches in which universities, community-based organizations, aid foundations, or non-governmental organizations intervene on behalf of a community to define and address problems (Kretzman & McKnight, 1996). Needs-based approaches tend to over-emphasize deficits and problems, and can have the undesired effects of reducing motivation and self-agency and creating dependence on outside institutions. The ABCD approach positions outside institutions as facilitators to uncover internal strengths and assets that community members can use to address the problems they define as needing attention. In the Binghamton classroom before the trip, students will learn about (a) international development, (b) the historical and current role of the United States and Europe in African development, (c) the nature and structure of non-governmental and non-profit organizations, (d) business planning and development for micro-financing and micro-enterprise, (e) strengths and needs of rural communities, (f) family and community systems functioning, and (g) child and adolescent development. The course situates local ABCD practice within the intersections of social justice, economic viability, and cultural identity. The course is designed to help students develop knowledge and skills that enable them to reflect on local development, the role of the United States and Europe in African affairs and development, the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in promoting equity and development, and students? own roles in international service. Students can take the course as credit as six credits, either SW 380 OR SW 580. For social work students (BSW or MSW) the course will count in place of one required elective course. . Readings, discussions, and individual research will cover concepts and issues of social and economic justice and the roles of local and international governments in development. We will give particular attention to the region?s cultural and political history, its richness of natural resources and community strength, and its post-colonial economic, political, and social growth and struggles. We will discuss the current and critical debates around the services provided by local NGOs and international aid organizations and the functions that they serve in and for communities. We will also examine the relationships, parallels, and differences between American racial, social, and economic justice struggles and those of sub-Saharan Africa. This course includes 2 weeks on-site in Malawi leaving in late May and going into the month of June. The pre-departure course is designed to help students develop skills and knowledge that will enable you to get the most out of your international experience. It will provide you with information about service learning and the practical aspects of international travel. We will spend considerable time reflecting on our role in international service and discuss at length ethical implications of our time in Malawi. We will talk about how to maximize your learning experience during the course as well as your time abroad and when you return home. The objectives of the course are to: 1. Investigate what local development looks like in practice by identifying key players which include local government, local community-based organizations, and NGOs; 2. Scrutinize and think critically about the roles of local government and civil society organizations in sub-Saharan African development generally and in the Southern African region in particular; 3. Explore the social, political, historical, cultural and ethical dimensions of international engagement; 4. Engage in personal and critical reflection on our practices as global citizens; 5. Develop skills and competencies to enable successful international travel and positive engagement in service learning that is mutually beneficial and which promotes greater cross-cultural understanding and learning. Offered Summer.