ICDS Study Abroad: Sustainability

Study Abroad: Sustainability

According to the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, ”Our world is under strain.  Poverty continues to plague communities and families.  Climate change threatens livelihoods.  Conflicts are raging.  Inequalities are deepening.  These crises will only worsen unless We change course.”

We, as cited by Ban Ki-moon, refers to all of us.  We have to assume our role as global citizens and get involved in every way we can.  However, to bring about changes, it is necessary to be well equipped.  To that end, studying abroad provides students with knowledge, tools, and living experiences that contribute to develop an understanding of complex phenomena, as well as cultural sensitivity and tolerance towards different ways of living.  

Overall, studying abroad enriches our own lives and make us better people and provides excellent opportunities for students to immerse themselves in a different culture, learn or improve Spanish language skills and acquire proficiency to boost academic and professional opportunities. ICDS Fall Semester, Development Studies in Latin America, offers not only the options above but also a choice of courses that cover subjects such as environment, sustainability, human rights, health, food security, gender and human development.   In addition, the program allows students to have a hands-on experience through community work, internships, and volunteering.

A special feature of the program is the elective course Sustainability Practicesand Food Security in Rural Costa Rica.  This course takes place at Finca La Flor and  allows students to gain an understanding of sustainable principles and their application in a tropical rural setting; have a hands-on experience of tropical agricultural landscapes and dynamics; and in general, understand  the complexities and challenges in working with participatory processes and help develop relations, projects, and mutual support between the local community and the farm, all of it to collaborate with Finca La Flor’s sustainability.

This is what Nick Erwin (Fall 2016) had to say about his experience at Finca La Flor: 

“As part of a new addition to the program at ICDS, I attended a course titled Sustainability Practices and Food Security in Rural Costa Rica.  As part of the course, I lived on site at a farm not far from the nation’s capital of San José.  There I was given the opportunity to not only see the application of sustainable farming practices in a very real way, but I was also invited to participate in the growth of the farm and encouraged to share my knowledge of permaculture into a project that had tangible results.  The resulting permaculture plot, which was designed around the attributes provided by a chayote trellis was built and will provide food for the future guests of Finca La Flor for years to come.”

The good news is that you still have time to apply for Fall 2017!  The deadline is June 10, 2017 -For more information please email studyabroad@icds.ac.cr 

Do not miss a great opportunity to study, live with a local family, do community work, and travel in beautiful Costa Rica!

Saludos and "Pura Vida,"

Jorge Nowaslski,

ICDS President & Academic Director

San José, Costa Rica

studyabroad@icds.ac.cr