Aug 26, 2019
Vancouver, BC – A group of 14 Langarans is making their way across the world today for the inaugural Langara International Service Trip (LIST) to Kenya. LIST is the first co-curricular international service trip ever held by Langara College. The program takes students beyond the classroom, and beyond Canada, to volunteer in our global community while focusing on local and global cultural awareness, sustainability, and service. Langara College is the first Canadian college to partner with ME to WE Trips.
“ME to WE has more than 20 years working with the communities in the Maasai Mara in Kenya. The WE Village community there is a great example of what good can come of international charities supporting initiatives driven by local communities,” said Reba Noel, Manager, Langara College Student Engagement. “WE has partnered with a number of communities in the area to build schools, a hospital and clinic, a women’s empowerment centre, water projects, two farms, and more. The WE Villages model focuses on sustainable development and partnership with local communities.”
The Langara group will travel to the Maasia Mara where they will be immersed in the local community. Participants will bead with Maasai mamas, spend time with children at a local school, visit the hospital, help on a local farm, spend time at the Kenya Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, collect water for local families, and complete a volunteer project.
“We experience a new community differently when we enter into the area with a mindset for service. Participants are so much more than travelers because they are there to learn more about global issues, increase their awareness of themselves and others, and participate in change driven by the local community,” said Maggie Stewart, Co-ordinator for the VOLT Volunteer Program.
“Volunteering at home certainly has this effect – but international service takes things to another level because participants are developing themselves as global citizens. In an ever-increasingly connected world, the expectation for the next generation of professionals to be interculturally aware and agile is enormous.”
Upon returning, participants will be sharing their learnings with the College community at the public showcase in the A Building Main Foyer on Thursday, September 26, 2019. The program will be taking another 12 students on this life-changing journey in April 2020 and applications are now open.
About Langara College
Located in beautiful Vancouver, B.C., Canada, snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College provides University, Career, and Continuing Studies education to more than 23,000 students annually. With more than 1,700 courses and 130 programs, Langara’s expansive academic breadth and depth allows students of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages to choose their own educational path. Langara is also known as 'house of teachings', a name given to it by the Musqueam people on whose unceded traditional territory the College is located. Langara is celebrating its 49th year on West 49th Avenue with Beyond 49, an integrated celebration, alumni engagement, and fundraising campaign to reconnect with alumni, and raise funds for student support and important College initiatives.
Learn more.
Mark Dawson
Manager, Public Affairs
604.323.5702
mdawson@langara.ca
