Peralta travels to El Salvador
Students see country with 'Personal' lens
Marlene C. Hurd
Issue date: 5/22/08 Last update: 5/22/08 at 6:42 PM PST
Section: Features
A delegation of eight students and two faculty members traveled to El Salvador in March 2008.
Carolina De Robertis who teaches English 1A & 201 A/B at Merritt College and Isela Gonzalez Santana, Merritt College Puente English instructor who teaches the English 48 Research Methodology - El Salvador Through a Personal "I" Lens.
According to Santana, "The class consists of two parts: a research component in which you are engaging in a personal topic related to El Salvador and a service-learning component which consists of the fundraising and the work done in collaboration with Central American Refugee Committee (CRECE) before, during, and even after the trip to El Salvador."
The trip was to educate students about what was going on in El Salvador.
The student's and faculty worked with CRECE who's mission is to, "Support the most impoverished rural communities, focusing on children, youth and the elderly. CRECE visit's new communities and monitor their needs. CRECE brings "Hope." Esteban Marino de Paz is the General Coordinator for CRECE. To prepare for the trip students held Fundraiser's on the Merritt College campus, and a holiday fair with Salvadoran Flair.
They held a Gary Soto Book reading at Corazon del Pueblo on International Ave in Oakland CA. The event was a Banquet and silent auction with a dance called: "Bringing a School in our Suitcases" held on the Merritt College campus.
The Peralta Foundation provided a $800 contribution to Laney College student Javiere de paz which assisted with travel cost. De Paz also received a donation from Laney Tower Newspaper Adviser Burt Dragin.
The money raised by the students assisted with purchasing book supplies to distribute to the schools while in El Salvador.
As the students prepared for departure they were given assignments to write a summary and a reflection on their service learning experience while in El Salvador. Javiere de paz father who is the founder of CRECE encouraged him to get involved in giving back to his community. He requested for a grant from Youth Upraising to start a computer learning program in CRECE. De paz worked with kids, low-income parents who did not have computers. After arriving to El Salvador seeing the impoverish area changed the students perceptions.
The population in El Salvador is 6 million. Most of the people live in poverty. When kids can't go to school they join gangs or work in the fields with their parents.
Upon arriving to El Salvador the delegation brought school supplies for the children and youth. They visited several schools and received warm welcomes.
Students learned about the Civil War, health care issues and educational needs. The study aboard program, according to Santana, "Allowed students to experience education beyond the classroom."
They learned what it's like to, "Bring a school in their suitcases." Since returning back to Oakland the students have an appreciation for being able to experience service learning right on the job while serving.
To learn more about CRECE contact Esteban Marino de paz at (510) 533-5742 or www.eastbaycrece.org. To enroll in contact Isela Gonzalez Santanar at (510) 436-2648 or email isantana@peralta.edu.
Carolina De Robertis who teaches English 1A & 201 A/B at Merritt College and Isela Gonzalez Santana, Merritt College Puente English instructor who teaches the English 48 Research Methodology - El Salvador Through a Personal "I" Lens.
According to Santana, "The class consists of two parts: a research component in which you are engaging in a personal topic related to El Salvador and a service-learning component which consists of the fundraising and the work done in collaboration with Central American Refugee Committee (CRECE) before, during, and even after the trip to El Salvador."
The trip was to educate students about what was going on in El Salvador.
The student's and faculty worked with CRECE who's mission is to, "Support the most impoverished rural communities, focusing on children, youth and the elderly. CRECE visit's new communities and monitor their needs. CRECE brings "Hope." Esteban Marino de Paz is the General Coordinator for CRECE. To prepare for the trip students held Fundraiser's on the Merritt College campus, and a holiday fair with Salvadoran Flair.
They held a Gary Soto Book reading at Corazon del Pueblo on International Ave in Oakland CA. The event was a Banquet and silent auction with a dance called: "Bringing a School in our Suitcases" held on the Merritt College campus.
The Peralta Foundation provided a $800 contribution to Laney College student Javiere de paz which assisted with travel cost. De Paz also received a donation from Laney Tower Newspaper Adviser Burt Dragin.
The money raised by the students assisted with purchasing book supplies to distribute to the schools while in El Salvador.
As the students prepared for departure they were given assignments to write a summary and a reflection on their service learning experience while in El Salvador. Javiere de paz father who is the founder of CRECE encouraged him to get involved in giving back to his community. He requested for a grant from Youth Upraising to start a computer learning program in CRECE. De paz worked with kids, low-income parents who did not have computers. After arriving to El Salvador seeing the impoverish area changed the students perceptions.
The population in El Salvador is 6 million. Most of the people live in poverty. When kids can't go to school they join gangs or work in the fields with their parents.
Upon arriving to El Salvador the delegation brought school supplies for the children and youth. They visited several schools and received warm welcomes.
Students learned about the Civil War, health care issues and educational needs. The study aboard program, according to Santana, "Allowed students to experience education beyond the classroom."
They learned what it's like to, "Bring a school in their suitcases." Since returning back to Oakland the students have an appreciation for being able to experience service learning right on the job while serving.
To learn more about CRECE contact Esteban Marino de paz at (510) 533-5742 or www.eastbaycrece.org. To enroll in contact Isela Gonzalez Santanar at (510) 436-2648 or email isantana@peralta.edu.
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