International Immersion Programs

The Center for Community Service and Justice offers two international immersion programs, Project Mexico and Encounter El Salvador. Each program has its unique history and mission. All of our immersion programs are rooted in the mission and core values of a Jesuit University.

Both programs offer the participants an opportunity to walk in the shoes of people whose life reality is very different from their own. Our two international immersion programs are unique and offer distinct experiences. As stated by the Superior General of the Jesuits in an address to our universities in Santa Clara, 2000, Fr. Kovenbach stated:

“For four hundred years, Jesuit education has sought to educate “the whole person” intellectually and professionally, psychologically, morally and spiritually. But in the emerging global reality, with its great possibilities and deep contradictions, the whole person is different from the whole person of the Counter-Revolution, the Industrial Revolution or the 20^th Century. Tomorrow’s whole person cannot be whole without an educated awareness of society and culture with which to contribute socially, generously, in the real world. Tomorrow’s whole person must have, in brief, a well-educated solidarity.”

Project Mexico is our longest running international immersion program, having started in 1987. It has evolved over the years but continues to be a program that combines education and hands on service opportunities.

For part of the 10 days that the group is in Tijuana, Mexico, the group participates in community-directed construction projects, commonly centered on schools. The other half of our time is focused on educational activities to engage topics such as immigration, human rights, environment, political and economic issues.

This program consists of 20 undergraduate students, including two student leaders and an assistant student leader along with two moderators (Faculty, Staff or Administrators) and the Program Coordinator. The trip is during the winter break, in early January.

Encounter El Salvador began in 1998. It is a smaller group and consists of 9 undergraduate students, and 4 participants that are either graduate students, or Faculty, Staff or Administrators, plus the two Program  Co-Coordinators. This trip happens right after graduation in late May.

Encounter El Salvador is distinct in that it is not based in  direct service but rather a service of presence. The team visits a variety of groups both governmental and non-governmental as well as lives with people in a small rural town to hear their stories and learn about their reality. The activities attempt to offer participants a diversity of opinions and perspectives, but the trip clearly focuses on the perspective of people who are poor and seldom have a voice in the mass media. Again Fr. Kolvenbach states,

“ But no point of view is ever neutral or value-free. By preference, by option, our Jesuit point of view is that of the poor.”

< Domestic Immersion Programs | Encounter El Salvador | Project Mexico >