Global Engagement Summer Institute (GESI)

La Plata, Argentina; Udaipur, India; Jinja, Uganda

The Global Engagement Summer Institute (GESI) is a two-course summer study abroad program focused on community development in a global context. Students from around the country learn about international development, global engagement practices, project management, leadership, and the realities of contemporary Argentinean, Indian, or Ugandan life by connecting them with community based organizations to co-design and collaboratively implement a small-scale community development project. GESI starts with a 7-10 day training institute at Northwestern University in which students prepare for their project-based immersion by taking two courses—Intro to International Community Development and Theory and Practice of Community Consulting—as well as learning from guest speakers about the cultural, historical, political, and economic background of their country. Students then spend 7 weeks in either Argentina, India, or Uganda living in homestays, working with a local non profit in a team of five, and participating in guest lectures and discussion with local experts and a Northwestern TA. GESI concludes with a 2-3 day comparative final summit in Chicago.

GESI is sponsored by the Northwestern University Center for Global Engagement (CGE) at the Buffett Center for International and Comparative Studies. CGE provides programs that challenge, support, and develop the growing community of young people passionate about contributing to positive global change.

Website: www.mycge.org

Program Contact: Nicole Patel, Program Manager, 620 Library Place, 847-467-0844