Guatemala: Conflict and Resilience, March 2024
Study human rights, Mayan cultural resilience, and strategies for sustainability in the context of Guatemala’s complex and tumultuous history. In this 11-day seminar, we’ll discover the roles that politics, history, culture, migration, and sustainability play in a society that recently came out of nearly four decades of civil war.
We’ll examine the vast legacy of the Maya, and explore cultural survival strategies in an economic reality where half the population lives in significant poverty and continue to struggle to overcome colonial legacies.
Highlights include visits to many communities in the Guatemalan highlands and a three-night homestay with a Mayan family as we explore grassroots efforts to recreate and nurture sustainable communities in the stunning Lake Atitlan region (including visits to Panajachel and Santiago Atitlan, among others).
We’ll also visit the incredible Sunday market in Chichicastenango, Antigua’s colonial architecture and vibrant culture, and the bustling city life of Guatemala City. We’ll meet with individuals and organizations from across Guatemalan civil society, including human rights activists, government officials, Mayan spiritual leaders, and a variety of NGOs working on efforts to improve the quality of life for women, children, victims of war and violence, and migrants, and creating pathways for nurturing and sustaining the cultural and ecological vitality of this incredible country. The style of this travel seminar is highly experiential with guided sessions for analysis and reflection.
Trip Dates: March 7 – 17, 2024
Courses: There are two options for students:
- PSC 1050: Current Political Issues (3 credits). This course is appropriate for most students. This is a Guaranteed Transfer (GT) course and there are no course prerequisites.
- SUS 3910: Field Experience in Sustainability (3 credits). Students enrolled in the Sustainability Studies program should register for this course.
Trip Leader: Bob Gumbrecht, Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Trip Fee: $3000 plus airfare and CMC tuition and fees.
Tuition: See current in-district, in-state, and out-of-state CMC Tuition Rates
Application deadline: December 1, 2023
Registration and payment deadline: December 8, 2023. Payment plans are available!
Let us know you're interested!
All questions are welcome.
