1. GOAL AND SCOPE
The Caribbean Overseas Program provided students with opportunities for in-depth cultural exploration in and out of the classroom, including an international experience and community-based learning in which participants were expected to be able to identify and assess the needs of community partners and be able to discuss the features and address the needs of cultural resource management in community, laboratory and at historical, cultural or archaeological sites and setting.
In addition to understanding the basics of field methods and techniques of investigation in the various fields of study and opportunity in using field data and community issues, participants were expected to identify features of the history of the formation and transformation of cultural contact and international encounters and develop an understanding of the African context of the Caribbean experience. Consequently, participants were expected to better appreciate and understand the cultural heritage and history of the African Diaspora in the Caribbean.
2. FIELD EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE LEARNING
Students work closely with both academic, cultural and government institutions and communities to gain first hand experience in basic techniques of investigation, interaction and problem solving. Students have the opportunity to develop individual and group service learning projects in collaboration with staff and students of the overseas partners. The results are later shared with Oregon communities and groups especially in the metropolitan Portland settings in the form of symposia and presentations.
3. RESOURCE MATERIAL
a. Considerable amount of video footage and slide and photo archive has been assembled as part of the resource material for teaching and demonstrations.
b. Internship opportunities have been established for students and a few students have already taken advantage of these in Trinidad and Tobago as well as at experimental sites in Ghana , Puerto Rico , the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., Organization of African Unity, Addis Ababa ( Ethiopia ). Capstone programs have also been arranged in Mexico for students as a result of the overseas contacts.
4. PROGRAM OPTIONS AVAILABLE
Five options were developed over the six- year period of the program.
a. Culture, History and Archaeology: Students will provide service to the UWI Archaeology program conducting a brief survey of an archaeological site, analyzing artifacts in the archaeology laboratories of the University and in the Tobago Museum. Projects will investigate issues and historical sources, including traditional music, African-derived religions, festivals and festivities, resistance, oral traditions and history.
b. International /Community Health: Students explored the health care system in a Caribbean country under the supervision of the country’s local health authorities. This included visits and projects at local hospitals and health centers, naturopathic healers and community health care clinics and schools.
c. History power and Politics: Connecting past and present. It explored the history and culture of Africans and their descendants in the Americas using field experience to collect oral history and traditions that shaped resistance and survival.
d. Story telling, Oral Histories and traditions and Literary Arts: Literary and other arts of the African-Jamaican experience, including the oral and performing arts they encounter in the field and university and community settings
e. Politics and Performance Arts – Students explored the history and culture of the Carnival season emphasizing the role of ritual and performance Art in political and artistic expression, festivals and festivities including music and dance.
5. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
These are determined for each overseas trip depending on the overall theme selected by the instructor.
6. PROGRAM COST
The program is cost-effective always meeting all costs. Generally, the cost of the programs for individual students ranged from $1,150 to approximately $1,500 and covered three meals per day, accommodation in guesthouses, local transportation and excursions including admission to performances and on-site orientation.
Financial Aid
Most financial aid that students are eligible to receive was applied to this program. These include PELL grants, Supplemental Grants (SEOG), Stafford Loans (GSL), and Perkins Loans (NDSL). Veterans and Social Security benefits also apply. Students receiving federal and state financial aid are urged to apply early to the program, since extra time is usually needed to process the paperwork. This helped more than 50% of students who participated in the program.
7. PARTICIPATION
The program is open to students in all categories as long as they are in good standing and have the average university GPA minimum
CONTACT INFORMATION: Department of Black Studies, 308 NH, Portland , OR 97207
Tel: 503-725-3472 Fax: 503-725-4003 jennae@pdx.edu
Program Director: Dr. E. Kofi Agorsah, 503-725-5080 e-mail agorsahe@pdxx.edu