Billowing electric wires link each
teetering structure. Garbage, piled
and scattered, buries the region.
Stray dogs wander the streets.
Riding the bus through Khayelit-
sha Township Anna Inthanonh's
eyes filled with tears. She and a
group of JWU students from all four
campuses were about to begin a
month-long study abroad program
to learn and work with children in
community centers and camps. They
didn't know what to expect. But
when the bus doors opened, they
were welcomed by a community
with smiles and happiness, bringing
Inthanonh a sense of joy that would
change her life forever.
Although the web can link us to
anywhere on Earth, the best way to
learn about the world is immersion
in another country or discussing
world issues with someone from
another culture. Through JWU's
dozens of study
abroad programs,
internships, and
on-campus
experiences, students can become
true global citizens.
"Successful graduates must be able
to think and act with awareness of
the world around them," says Shelley
Stephenson, dean of international
programs in Providence. To drive
that philosophy, JWU formed the
Global Learning Committee to em-
brace diversity, increase opportuni-
ties for global learning, incorporate
global current events into the class-
room, and create global citizens.
"By challenging students to listen
to others and think about inter-
national issues, students gain an
increased awareness of and appre-
ciation for the world," says Denver's
Richard Wiscott, PhD, vice president
and dean of academic affairs.
"The experience in South Africa
brought apartheid to life and
changed my perspective on pov-
erty," says Inthanonh, who is await-
ing a Peace Corps assignment. "Now
I want to continue to give back to
the world."
Global Citizenship
South of Cape Town, South Africa, the streets of
Khayelitsha Township are cramped with colorful
shacks of mismatched rusty sheet metal.
"
"
e experience ... changed my
perspective on poverty.
Anna Inthanonh '14
