1. GOAL AND SCOPE
The South American Studies Overseas Program (based in Suriname) provides 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 are 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 are expected to better appreciate and understand the cultural heritage and history of the African Diaspora in the South America . This program is strongly linked to the history and archaeology and the heritage of Maroons, enslaved people who run away from the plantations into the forests and fought back colonial forces to win their freedom. They formed their independent communities while fighting the wars of freedom.
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, class and public presentations.
3. RESOURCE MATERIAL
a. Considerable amount of video footage, slide and photo archive have 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, Jamaica, Curacao, Suriname 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 other areas such as Brazil , Mexico , Honduras 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 National Museum of Suriname, the University of Suriname in Paramaribo and other cultural institutions while learning about their culture. The archaeology program enables students to conduct brief surveys of archaeological site, analyze artifacts in the archaeology laboratories of the University, cultural institutions and Museums and learn basic approaches to archaeological investigation. 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 explore the traditional health care systems under the supervision of the country’s local and traditional health authorities. This includes visits and projects at local hospitals and health centers, naturopathic healers and community health care clinics, family and clan shrines, schools and traditional herbal healing clinics.
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 “black 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 festivals and festivities, emphasizing the role of ritual and performance Art in political and artistic expression, festivals and festivities including music and dance such as kawina, kaseko, seketi and similar forms of 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 ranges from $1,150 to approximately $1,500 and covers three meals per day, accommodation in guesthouses, local transportation, excursions and required insurance and admission to performances and on-site orientation.
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 helps more than 50% of students who participate 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