Colombia
Field School in Colombia: Post-Conflict, Peace, and Development (May - June 2024)
Saint Mary´s University students visiting Pichilin community in Montes de Maria region (May, 2023)
Join our exciting Field School program and explore how different grassroots organizations work with historical memory, reconciliation, and peace projects in Colombia.
As students, you'll have the chance to engage directly with various community initiatives in regions heavily impacted by the armed conflict and how they have implemented the peace agreement between the FARC guerrillas and the Colombian government signed in 2016. Our partners include renowned organizations like Sembrando Paz in Montes de María and Agroarte Colombia in Medellín. In addition, you'll have classes at the Universidad de Antioquia, a prestigious and renowned Colombian public university in Medellín.
This opportunity is perfect for those studying Global Development Studies, Political Sciences, Latin American Studies, Hispanic Studies, and Psychology. In addition to community projects, we will also visit important public institutions and museums, such as Casa Museo de la Memoria in Medellín, to enrich your understanding of historical memory. Don't miss out on this unique and enriching experience!
Locations and places to visit
The Field School in Colombia is a three-week program starting at Saint Mary´s University Campus in Halifax for the first week, followed by the second- and third-weeks taking place in Colombia during the spring-summer term in May and June 2024.
- Week one: Saint Mary's University, Halifax
During the first week we will kickstart our journey with engaging lectures, films and discussions held at Saint Mary’s University campus for five days. These introductory sessions will provide valuable insights into the history and context of the armed conflict in Colombia and the implementation of the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the ex-FARC Guerrillas. We will also use this week to prepare ourselves thoroughly for the upcoming field trip, ensuring a meaningful and enriching experience for all.
Naza arriving on a connecting flight to Sincelejo (June 2023)
Saint Mary's University (June 2023)
- Week two and three: Medellin and Granada, (Antioquia, Colombia)
Assetou and Naza during a experiential class at the Universidad de Antioquia (May, 2023)
We will start our journey in Bogota where we will visit important public institutions such as The National History Museum, The Special Jurisdiction for peace and the National Center for Historical Memory and Reconciliation. Our next stop on this exciting journey is Medellín, a dynamic and innovative city known for its transformation from a once-violent past to a thriving hub of art, culture, and urban development. During ten days we will get involved in different community projects lead by different organizations in different comunas or districts in Medellin such as Agroarte, Casa Kolacho, Casa Museo de la Memoria and Centro de Desarrollo Cultural Moravia. Also, we will have daily lectures and workshops at the prestigious Universidad de Antioquia where top scholars on topics related to the armed conflict, historical memory and peace building will share their reflections and research.
Organized by Faculty from Universidad de Antioquia we will visit the town of Granada located 60 minutes drive from Medellin to get to know local initiatives related to agricultural projects and historical memory projects at the Nunca Más! Museum.
Saint Mary's University students visiting a sugarcane processing plant in Granada, Antioquia Region (June 2023)
Community leader AKA talking about his Agroarte initative at Comuna Trece in Medellin
Faculty Team
- Dr. Victoria Diaz Faciolince (Department of Psychology. Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. UdeA)
- Dr. Martha Valderrama (Department of Social Work. Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. UdeA)
- Dr. Isabel González (INER. Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. UdeA)
- Dr. Natalia Cardona (INER. Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. UdeA)
- Dr. Andrés Arteaga (Department of Languages and Cultures / Global Development Studies Graduate program committee. SMU)
Community Team
- Agroarte (El Aka and the women collective Las doñas)
An organization that has actively resisted violence in Comuna 13 through memory, resistance actions, and community partnerships, fostering empowerment, intergenerational exchange, and a harmonious relationship between humans and nature. Visit their website for more information.
Student Assessment
As this combines seminar lectures and experiential learning opportunities, the course evaluation will be divided into Essay, Community Involvement and Field Report.
To ensure a comprehensive understanding of Colombia's political, economic, geographic, and sociocultural landscape, students will engage in preparatory readings and film discussions for one week prior to their departure to Colombia. Once in Colombia during the second and third weeks, students will further analyze and discuss class materials while reflecting on their enriching field school experiences. This multifaceted assessment approach will enable a holistic evaluation of your learning and engagement throughout the course.
Fees and Costs
Students are required to pay a program fee between $1,500 and $2,000 to Saint Mary's University, which covers cost associated with the field school such as hotel accommodation, meals (breakfast and lunch), local transportation, museum tickets, guest speakers honorariums and donations to community organizations during two weeks.
In addition to the program fees, it's essential to note that students are required to register and pay tuition fees for 6 credits for this summer course (courses SPAN3777, SPAN4400, GDST3777). The tuition fee for two courses (6 credit hours) is between $1,585 (NS residents) and $1,842 (Domestic, Non residents of Nova Scotia). International students pay international tuition fees. Please check the updated costs at SMU self-service banner.
Students are responsible for the additional air travel costs from Canada to Colombia and internal flights between cities. Generally, airfare to and from Colombia during the summer runs between CAD 1,000 to $1,500 (depending on the point of departure, airline, and route). Students should also anticipate costs for travel and emergency health insurance.
Accommodation and Meals
During our two weeks stay in Colombia students will be accommodated in comfortable double or triple rooms at hotels conveniently located in the downtown areas. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, featuring delicious local cuisine that promises a delightful experience. Additionally, for snacks, you can explore the numerous small, local grocery stores that offer a variety of snack items and other food options.
Past Experiences and Feedback
"This course is unique in its ability to expand student’s horizons through experiential learning along with academic university access. Through travel and exposure to different environment students are immersed in a new language, culture, and educational experience... This course was excellent it provided me with an amazing insight into Colombia and their hardship. It has changed the way I view developing, developed and underdeveloped nations, and has inspired me to want to learn further about Latin America." (Richard Donafeld, undergrad student in Political Science, 3rd year)
"I personally found the field school in Colombia to be a life-changing experience. Many of my perceptions of the world and of what I wanted to do with my life were flipped on their head. I learned a lot about conflict, resilience, different types of art, humanizing the Other, and much more." (Assetou Diop, undergrad student in Global Development, 3rd year)
"The trip involved a great mix or rural and city settings. It was interesting to see such a different culture than I am used to in daily life. The communities we visited were unique and had their own story to tell." (Jacob Coyle, undergrad student in Economics, 1st year)
"When you are immersed in a culture and hear different perspectives from those who lived through the topics we learned about, a course becomes one of the most rewarding experiences someone can have. It was also useful to balance these first-hand narratives with the academic sources provided in the pre-departure classes in Halifax and with the lectures at UdeA." (Devin Gallo, undergrad student in Political Science, 4th year).
Pre-requisites
- A minimum of 6 Spanish credits at 1000 level with a minimum grade of A or the equivalent of a A2 level of Spanish.
- A letter of recommendation from one of your professors.
- An expression of interest form sent by February 15th, 2024 to andres.arteaga@smu.ca.
- An interview with the selection committee comprising faculty members from the Department of Global Development Studies and the Department of Languages and cultures.
Application Process
If you are interested in applying to participate in the 2024 field school, please fill in the FSC 2024 Expression of Interest and send it back by February 1, 2024, to Dr. Andrés Arteaga, Department of Languages and Cultures, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS, Canada, via email at: andres.arteaga@smu.ca or printed.
Field School in Colombia: Post-Conflict, Peace, and Development in Colombia (SPAN 3777/ SPAN4400/ GDST3777 - 6 Credit hours)
Important dates
- Due by February 15, 2024: Expression of Interest
- Due by February 22, 2024: Letter of Recommendation
- February 26 to March 1, 2024: Selection Interviews
- March 4 , 2024: List of selected students (Between 8 and 10 students)
- Due by March 15, 2024: Deposit 1
- Due by April 15, 2024: Deposit 2
- May 20 - June 15, 2024: Field School (Colombia trip June 2-15)
Questions about the FSC you can contact Dr. Andrés Arteaga via email andres.arteaga@smu.ca or by phone at (902) 420-5811.