Global Engagement Trips
Our Global Engagement Trips (GETs) are an important part of our collaboration with our partner organization Human Connections. For the past two years, TID members have been working with Human Connections to plan educational and enriching engagement trips for Tuft students. During spring break, students travel to a country in Latin America and spend an intensive week learning about microfinance and financial inclusion.
Ecuador, Spring 2016
In the spring of 2016, Tufts students and TID members traveled to Ambato, Ecuador, to learn about microfinance and entrepreneurship in the Andean region of Ecuador. Over this short week in March, GET participants began grasping the surface of economic development in central Ecuador. They learned about all different avenues of development, from the newer and more commercial startup incubators in downtown Quito to the indigenous-led microfinance cooperatives in Salasaca. They particularly learned about the resilience of local entrepreneurs to the recent economic crisis in Ecuador. Moreover, participants saw a different, more nuanced side to economic development through artisans staying loyal and truthful to their customers or cooperatives refinancing loans to people who were in deep debt. This week of visiting businesspeople in their homes and hearing them speak candidly about their dedication towards Ecuadorian development reinforced how important grassroots communication was in international development. Participants learned how local opinion and nuances can be overshadowed by bigger government agencies and bureaucracies, and how these voices should be prioritized first. For more information about the trip refer to the brochure published by Human Connections.
Mexico, Spring 2015
"Human Connections provided me with a truly unique and transformative educational experience. It was one of the best weeks of my life thus far thanks to the gratitude, compassion, organization, and creative thinking that Human Connections has put into their organization. HC embodies its mission statement and provides value for the community they wish to serve…To learn about microfinance and visit Bucerias through such a wonderful organization has been an honor." -Gabrielle Zoia
|
In the spring of 2015, Tufts students travelled to Bucerias, Mexico, to learn about microfinance and entrepreneurship through the lens of a local community. Bucerias is the operating location of Human Connections. Students learned a huge amount and had a great experience! TID member Sara Pearce-Probst was among the attendees.
Some testimonials of the Tufts students and group leader, as found on the Human Connections page. "I know this is cheesy, but this truly was a life-changing experience! This trip exponentially accelerated my knowledge of micro finance, allowed me to experience the local Mexican culture, and, most importantly, helped me grow personally. The directors of this program are amazing and fascinating individuals who I got to know personally and definitely want to keep in touch with! I would recommend this trip to everyone without hesitation." -Sara Pearce-Probst "My experience with Human Connections exceeded anything I could have imagined…It pushed me to consider what makes me happy and how that might fit into my career path. I believe that the discoveries and realizations that this trip facilitated will have an invaluable impact on my future." -Lara LoBrutto |