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Service Learning Programs |
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Service learning is more than simply volunteer work. While serving others abroad is at the heart of all of our volunteer programs, service learning allows students to expand upon their volunteer service and integrate it thoughtfully into their academic coursework. And both faculty members and students will be supported all the while by our Denver and on-site staff. Students who have participated in a service learning programs have commented that it was one of the most profound experiences of their high school or college careers.
BridgeVolunteers service learning programs include the following: |
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Volunteer Service Placement |
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The volunteer service component of our programs thoughfully integrates the needs of local communities and the academic goals of program participants. By serving the communities in which they are staying, students develop deep connections to local residents and gain deeper insight into the realities of the local culture. Volunteer projects come directly from the communities themselves and volunteers will be working side-by-side with local community members. BridgeVolunteers believes that the most effective service is that which engages students in community dialogue. The experiential nature of volunteer service in learning means that students will gain a deeper, first-hand understanding of academic themes introduced in the program. |
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Academic Lectures & Seminars |
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Thematic coursework allows students to expand upon their volunteer service through exploration of relevant academic topics and reflection on how those topics relate to student experiences abroad. Students will be taught by local faculty with extensive expertise, local organizational leaders dedicated to bettering their communities, and/or professors from their own university in faculty-led programs. The academic portion of the program allows students to relate their previous studies to the work they do at the volunteer projects. |
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Cultural Activities & Excursions |
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BridgeVolunteers understands that some of the best learning takes place outside the classroom, and for that reason our programs include cultural activities and excursions. These are often related to the theme of the program and provide students with the opportunity to explore local areas and relate their academic coursework to their surroundings. Additionally, excursions provide students with the opportunity to deepen their cultural knowledge and learn about local areas of importance. |
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Language Classes |
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Knowing the local language is one of the best ways to learn about the local culture and connect with the local community. In fact, BridgeVolunteers believes that learning a language is so important to a successful global service learning experience that we have arranged for language training in most of our programs in order to enhance students’ experiences abroad. Programs in these locations provide language classes alongside volunteer work, for a more enriching experience for everyone involved.
For more information, please see our page on Language Classes. |
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Accommodations & Meals |
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BridgeVolunteers understands the importance of feeling at home when abroad. For that reason we offer a variety of accommodations including host families, hotels, shared apartments, and bungalows. For more information, please see our Accommodations page.
Meals are provided by host families, hotels, or cooked by volunteers on a rotating basis depending on the program. Sampling the local cuisine is an excellent way to experience the culture; however, every effort will be made to accommodate vegetarians and those with other dietary restrictions. |
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In-Country Support Staff |
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We understand that traveling abroad—especially with a group—can be a complicated and challenging experience, which is why we provide the highest quality on-site support staff available. On-site staff members are available to you in case of an emergency, to answer questions about local culture, to provide information about transportation and local conditions, and generally to offer support in any situation during your time abroad. As a result, faculty members can dedicate themselves to what they do best—teach. |
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Academic Credit |
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In our faculty-led service learning programs, credit comes from the sending institution. However, our organization is open to a variety of models to offer credit. BridgeVolunteers has worked with a number of colleges and universities to provide credit for our service learning and language programs. Each institution is different and requires different documentation, but we are happy to provide any reports, itineraries, course records, or other documentation to facilitate the credit approval process. |
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Service Learning Programs |
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