HEILA: Marquette’s International Service Learning Experience

The Health, Environment, and Infrastructure in
Latin America (HEILA) initiative is an exciting opportunity for students to perform 2-week service learning projects in countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras while learning about the region’s history, culture, and politics. Students also explore their profession and its relationship to civil society in the US and abroad.

For an example of an environmental engineering service learning project right click on the link below and choose save target as to open the presentation.

Service_Learning_Project_2003 Video
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THE CLASS
The initiative includes a class, “Health, Environment and Infrastructure in Latin America” (co-listed as CEEN 188 and PHTH 195) in which students learn about the history, culture, and politics of Latin America. In addition, students explore the importance of their profession in terms of international development . For example, civil and environmental engineers explore the importance of clean drinking water, sanitation, and transportation for society. Similarly, physical therapists discuss the importance of health care, the definition of disability, and cultural issues relating to health care. And international affairs students explore models of international development. The experience is open to all students at Marquette University.

FACULTY INVOLVED

Dr. Michael Duffey
Dr. Duffey is an Associate Professor of Theology specializing in theological ethics with particular attention to issues of justice and peace. He is the author of Be Blessed in What You Do: The Unity of Christian Ethics and Spirituality (Paulist, 1988), and Peacemaking Christians: The Future of Just War, Pacifism, and Nonviolent Resistance (Sheed and Ward, 1995).

Dr. Lance Grahn
Dr. Grahn is chair of the History Departments at Marquette and specializes in Latin American history, including the political economy of colonial Colombia and how it shaped the body politic there as well as in the ethnohistory of Latin America. He is the author of Let My People Live: Faith and Struggle in Central America (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1988).

Dr. Daniel Zitomer
Dr. Zitomer is Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Marquette and specializes in environmental engineering, water treatment, wastewater treatment, and public health. Dr. Zitomer has presented lectures on water and wastewater treatment at the University of Central America, and has traveled extensively in El Salvador.

Ms. Michelle Schuh
Ms. Schuh is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Physical Therapy at Marquette. She has traveled extensively in El Salvador visiting public health facilities and meeting with physical therapy officials. Ms. Schuh has planned public health service projects in El Salvador and is familiar with Salvadoran community healthcare.

PREVIOUS PROJECTS
HEILA includes a service learning component in conjunction with the course. Through HEILA students and faculty have the opportunity to participate in 12-day service trips to El Salvador, Guatemala and other locations, or perform service learning in Milwaukee’s Latino community.

Students who travel to El Salvador are able to interact with students and professors at the University of Central America and the National University. Students that travel to Guatemala are able to help with engineering projects to build bridges and water distribution systems, or assist in medical clinics.

In order to learn more about the regional history and culture, as well as the importance of roads, bridges, clean water and public health in those countries, faculty and students are able to live with the local people. A significant part of the experience involves reflection and discussion regarding social justice in developing countries.

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
Anyone can apply to participate in HEILA. The cost to students traveling is approximately $1600. This cost includes airfare, housing, some meals, and other miscellaneous costs. Possible costs such as passport acquisition, international students ID card insurance, and required travelers immunization are not included in the $1600 estimate. It should be noted that many health insurance plans cover most of the immunization cost. Some students have raised all or part of the funds from private donors such as employers and churches.

CONTACT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED
If you are interested in the Marquette International Experience in Latin America or would like additional information, contact Dr. Daniel Zitomer at daniel.zitomer@marquette.edu or telephone at (414) 288-5733. Applications for the program are available upon request.