Global Outreach Participant Handbook

IntroductionThis booklet was designed to assist you with your preparations throughout the project. Global Outreach is an opportunity for you to learn about issues of poverty and injustice and how they are interconnected throughout our greater world community. Your experience will change you, and you will need to be prepared for the change. You should expect to grow in your knowledge of an unfamiliar culture as well as in your understanding of your own identity. You are accompanying each community and building relationships of mutual reciprocity and responsibility. You are not there in a higher position but rather a position of equality. Through this equality, new relationships are formed, boundaries are broken down, and stereotypes are erased. We hope that you will have a truly amazing experience and that you will carry what you learn on the project in all that you do.

“I don’t believe in charity. I believe in solidarity. Charity is so vertical. It goes from the top to the bottom. Solidarity is horizontal. It respects the other person. I have a lot to learn from other people.” -Eduardo Galeano

Table of Contents

Chapter 1……………………………………………………………………….What is Global Outreach?

Chapter 2…………………………………………………………………………………..Getting Started

Chapter 3……………………………………………………………Social Justice & Learning Immersion

Chapter 4……………………………………………………………………………………..Community

Chapter 5………………………………………………………………………………………Spirituality

Chapter 6……………………………………………………………………………………Simple Living

Chapter 7………………………………………………………………………………………..Follow-up

Chapter 8………………………………………………….………………………………… A Final Word

Project timeline:

□ Selection as a team member□ First team meeting (don’t be late)□ Weekly team meetings (meetings are mandatory)□ One-on-ones and other community building experiences□ Individual job/task for team meetings□ Work on fundraising ideas/projects/letters□ Retreat (overnight, off campus)□ Commissioning□ Final team meeting before the project□ Project □ GO Board-sponsored follow up meeting□ Team follow up meeting #1□ Team follow up meeting #2□ Team follow up meeting #3□ Educational event on campus □ Make picture collage□ Continue contact with host community, team, and GO Staff

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Chapter 1:What is Global Outreach?

Values and BeliefsGlobal Outreach centers on four pillars that work together and are interconnected in your experience. These four pillars are of equal importance and provide a platform for the entire GO experience.

Social justice – teams are called to think about, analyze and reflect upon issues of economic, social, racial, political, and environmental injustice. Community – teams live, work, eat, and sleep in a community, learning from and challenging one another. Simple living – team members maintain a simple lifestyle and remain sensitive to the culture in which they are immersed throughout the project. Spirituality – individual members are called to reflect on their faith and expand their spiritual life through their experience.

There are three distinct phases to a GO experience: the preparation, the immersion, and the follow up. Similar to the pillars, each phase carries equal weight and the three phases are interconnected as though they are pieces of a puzzle that come together to produce a GO experience. If one of the pillars or one of the phases is missing, the picture would not be complete.

Philosophy of Global OutreachGlobal Outreach is an organization run out of the Mission and Ministry Office and modeled on

the Jesuit tradition of service, of truly being men and women for and with others. This program is an example of that concern being brought to life through first hand experiences of living in and learning from a variety of communities both at home and abroad. Guided by the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis, meaning “care of the whole person,” each Global Outreach participant is fulfilling their responsibility to educate the whole person, and take care of each person in the community by bringing their own unique gifts, challenges, needs and possibilities to the project. One of the core principles of this program is learning the importance of social justice and working towards achieving justice for all people. These encounters often call participants to reconsider the political, economic and social realities they have been taught. This is primarily a learning and immersion experience and aims to give students a greater understanding and commitment to social justice, and build a foundation for global citizenship.

Another aspect of the project is accompaniment. Participants can experience the joys and demands of living and working in a community in the company of others. Each member brings unique talents and perspectives to the group, and each member benefits from the talents and perspectives of others. Everyone is called on to make sacrifices and to put the needs of others before their own. Eventually, the group becomes a team and the tasks of the project are completed in a harmonious fashion. The rewards, as well as the challenges, of learning immersion are heightened by the group experience. It is done together and takes place in the context of on-going reflection on the meaning and value of what is being done.

Members live simply in order to build solidarity with the communities with whom we are living and working. Team members are able to think about needs, happiness, and life in a new manner. Participants are challenged to question their own values and to examine what they may have taken for granted. They have the opportunity to reevaluate economic privileges and educational opportunities.

The project is also a time to examine spiritual dimensions. It allows you to question and evaluate your personal beliefs. While Global Outreach is based on the Jesuit model of men and women for and with others, the program is open to persons of all faith backgrounds including those who do not feel an affiliation to any religion. The hope is that each member will challenge one another in their beliefs in a

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positive and productive manner. It is an opportunity to expand the experience of faith through social justice and realize the principle of justice in faith, as well as a call to reflect on faith in everyday life.

Purpose of the ProjectOur hope, and primary goal of the project, is that your knowledge, sensitivity, and compassion

will increase as a result of your experience. A commonality of human experience will become apparent that crosses cultural, language, and economic boundaries. You will meet people who live in very different circumstances than your own. You will hear people’s stories, learn about their dreams for the future, and be educated about their political, religious, and economic realities. This will promote a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between local and global injustice, and our responsibility to continue to work within our communities for change. Throughout the project you are participating in cultural exchange by accepting the gifts and talents offered by another culture and sharing the gifts of your own cultural experience. By doing this you are taking steps toward the long-term goals of building cross-cultural relationships and moving toward a world actively engaged in creating peace and justice. A service and immersion project can help build the bridges between cultures, and inspire your continued involvement with issues of social justice, foster leadership around these issues, and spark debate and movements in the local Fordham community. Participating in a Global Outreach project can change your view of the world, your understanding of yourself within it, and the attitudes of all of the people with whom you share your story.

‘To borrow a term from social movement theory, universities can be “movement halfway houses” that educate leaders for social justice.’ -Melissa Snar, “The University of Social Justice”

Coordination of ProjectsThe projects are able to run successfully through the combination of efforts of several people. In

this next section we would like to outline the roles of those various people, what you should expect from them, and the expectations they have of you.

Team Members:Throughout the project, responsibilities are divided amongst team members. All of the decisions are shared so that the process is a group effort. Since projects operate as a team, or family, members have to be able to work together, which means being willing to bend and compromise. The actions (or lack there of) of one member will affect the entire group. This means that all participants need to take into account the larger picture when they act. Members should expect their teammates to pull equal weight, compromise when necessary, and work together on all aspects of the project. If a team member is not living up to these standards, the other members should approach the leader to discuss the situation.

Attending weekly meetings and fundraisers is mandatory. If you are unable to attend a meeting, it is necessary to call the leader with due notice. Emailing is not acceptable. Missing meetings is grounds for dismissal from the GO project. In case of emergency, please contact your leader to discuss alternative arrangements.

3D’s: No Drinking, No Drugs, No Dating Participants may not consume alcohol or other drugs during any aspect (i.e., the preparation, immersion, and follow up) of a Global Outreach project. Furthermore, GO participants are restricted from dating other members of their team. These rules are in effect to ensure the safety and protection of the teams, the host communities, and the integrity of the program. There is a zero tolerance rule for drinking, drugs and dating. This is in effect not only while on the project, but also during any team meetings, activities, fundraisers, or social events that are undertaken as part of GO. All participants gathering as a team, or representing the Global Outreach program in any way, are expected to abide by the 3D’s and maintain the integrity of the program. Furthermore, all students are expected to abide by the Fordham University policies published in the Student Handbook. Any policy violations that

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take place during participation in Global Outreach will be referred to the Director of Global Outreach and the Dean of Students.

In the event that a D is broken, the Leader will accompany the student home (at the student’s expense). Violation of this policy will result in termination of his/her participation in the project (i.e., being flown home at his/her expense), further GO participation, and a formal hearing before the Dean of Students and the Director of Global Outreach upon his/her return. The Chaperone will take on the role of Leader for the remainder of the project.

Team Leader:Leaders of projects are previous GO participants. They are responsible for choosing the team, contacting the site, organizing team meetings to foster growth, and coordinating other activities relating to the development of that particular project. Leaders expect that team members will participate in all meetings, work on fundraising, and commit themselves to helping in the work both before and after the project. Any problems related to the project should be brought to the leader as soon as possible so that the leader can deal with them in an appropriate manner.

Team Chaperone:Chaperones are Fordham graduate students, staff, or faculty members who serve as an adult presence on the projects. They ensure that the guidelines of both Fordham University and Global Outreach are being upheld by all members of the project. Chaperones expect that team members will behave in mature, responsible, and appropriate ways on the project. This enables the chaperone to be a regular participant in the project. Chaperones help team members to process the experience, challenge members to grow, and aid in the overall team dynamic.

The Global Outreach Board:The Board is comprised of undergraduate students who have participated in past projects. They choose project sites, assist leaders, coordinate community events, sit in on interviews and make decisions regarding GO policies. The Board is a resource to both team members and project leaders. Board members expect that team members will represent the program well at the various sites and that team members will commit themselves fully to the projects so they are successful. Concerns about the program can be brought to the Board for evaluation.

The GO Staff:The GO staff runs the day-to-day aspects of the program. The staff is responsible for keeping accurate financial records, training leaders and chaperones, overseeing Board decisions, and working with other University departments. The staff expects that team members will work with their group to fundraise the costs, that members will allow themselves to be challenged by the experience, and that members will remain open throughout the project. Financial concerns, issues with leaders, questions about reflection or retreat preparation, and other problems can be brought to staff at any time during the project. The GO staff can direct any team member to other resources available in the office, on campus, and in the greater community that could be beneficial to the team throughout the project process.

Chapter 2: Getting Started

Can you really make a difference?YES! History is filled with examples of how small groups of dedicated people have changed the world. While the purpose of the project is not to save the world, each member is obligated to think about their

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own role in society and how they can impact the world after the project. Before worrying about that, here are some items to evaluate before you leave.

Here are some questions to ask yourself: What are your motivations for participating in the project? Why did you apply to do this? Are they the right motives for this type of project? What do you really want to get out this project? What are your expectations. Are they realistic? Have you thought about how hard this will be? Have you thought about what it will be like on the project? After? How will you

adapt?

Once you start to understand your motivations and expectations, you can begin to think about how you will handle issues that arise on the project.

Preparation You have a very active role in your preparation for this project. You will be called upon to research, examine and discuss societal, economic, political, religious and educational structures present in each community. These issues are complicated and demand thorough attention and investigation. This will encourage each team member to share questions, individual knowledge, and interests with the team, and create an atmosphere where each member is actively discerning social justice issues and incorporating these into ongoing reflection. Don’t waste time! Get involved from the start. The more you put into this experience, the more you will get out of it.

International ProjectsPassports: It is essential that we have a copy of your passport right away. You must have your passport in at least 3 weeks prior to the date of departure. This allows us to process the paperwork and register you with the State Department and foreign embassies. If you do not already have your passport, you must expedite it so it gets here in time. Passports must be valid 6 months after your project departs. Vaccinations: Each team member must go the Health Center. Tell your Leader or team medical coordinator once you have gone, to keep team records about visits. Even if you have visited your family doctor, you are still expected to go the Health Center to find out what vaccinations you will need for your project. Immunizations should be completed no later than 4 weeks prior to your project departure date. Please note that costs associated with passports and vaccinations are not covered by fundraising.

Some additional considerationsCold Feet: As your project approaches, and you are home with your family and friends, you might be nervous and apprehensive about actually leaving. This is natural and to be expected. Talk about these feelings with your team. Chances are, they are likely feeling something very similar! Part of being in a community is being there for one another not only when you’re excited for the experience ahead of you, but also when you’re having doubts. You and your team have worked hard to prepare yourself for the journey ahead, and you are ready.

You will face numerous unexpected situations: Some of them may cause you to feel helpless, and others may cause you to feel challenged - physically or emotionally - just remember that feeling frustrated with certain aspects of the project is normal. Consult your teammates for help in dealing with these feelings as they arise.

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Don’t be too hard on yourself: Allow yourself to handle problems with grace. You may make mistakes. You might offend someone unintentionally. Whatever happens, as long as your heart is in the right place, you will be fine! Allow yourself to experience being forgiven, and be open to forgiving others. Communicate in the event of a problem.

Be flexible! Your team’s itinerary may change depending on the weather, the host organization you’re working with, or any number of other factors. Be prepared to adapt to the needs of the situation, and be open to meeting the challenges that arise.

Risk: There is always a certain element of risk on these projects. For some, the risk can be stepping on a nail or drinking water that is not meant for consumption. Other times, the risk is tied to the political environment. You must be alert and prepared for all situations. Each member must act responsibly to avoid any serious risks. Keep yourself informed by visiting these websites: Center for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/State Department, http://www.state.gov/Overseas Security Advisory Council, http://www.osac.gov/

Living Conditions: The living conditions are often simple in nature. The goal is to provide teams with the essentials needed, allowing the team to focus on fostering community and solidarity. Often, you may be sleeping on a floor or on a cot. You may not have access to hot water, heat, or A/C. You may be shocked by the difference in living conditions of some of our partnering communities. Sometimes, the accommodations are more than adequate and border on luxurious for the community in which you are staying. Remember that safety is always our first priority and that the accommodations have been chosen for a reason. Allow yourself time to reflect on the accommodations and consider how the members of the community live in comparison to how you are living. Somebody worked hard within the community to provide you with those accommodations, so be thankful and appreciative of their efforts. Avoid complaining since it will not benefit you or the team. Incorporate the differences you are seeing between lifestyles in the US and in the host communities into your reflections and thoughts about the meaning and implications of social justice.

Personal Agenda: If you are planning to “do your own thing,” chances are it will not happen. You are part of a team now and all of the activities are designed for the group. You may not be able to do everything that you want to or participate in the capacity that you were hoping for originally. You may be asked to make sacrifices for the greater good – do it! It can only make the experience better in the end if everyone is willing to compromise for the common good of the team.

Living in the moment: There will be times when you might not have anything to do. You may feel helpless or useless when you are not actively doing something. Listening and learning, getting to know the people around you, having conversations, and sharing this with your team is a very deep and lasting part of your experience. It should be considered “community time” and not “down time.” You can also use it constructively to read, reflect, or journal. Other times, you may feel anxious about what you’re doing next. You’re used to having a schedule, a calendar, your day-to-day activities right in front of you. That will most likely not be the case on your project. Embrace this opportunity! It’s not everyday you get the chance to simply go with the flow and be present with each moment. Instead of letting your anxiety get the best of you and this unique experience, stop yourself and remember to participate, not anticipate.

Charity and Gift Giving: Seeing poverty all around you produces a natural desire to give generously to those in need. In general, participants are asked not to give gifts or money to the host community. The team can decide as a group to donate time or money to a specific organization, but individual gifts can often cause more harm than good.

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Stress: The time that you spend on the project will be physically and emotionally draining. You will be called upon to adapt to group living. You may be surprised and shocked by the poverty that you will witness. Food, culture, and language may all be new and challenging. Utilize the members of your team to aid in your processing of all of these stressors. Reflect on your experience throughout the project both individually and with your team. This will help to keep you in good spirits despite the challenges.

“I was taught that the world had a lot of problems; I could struggle and change them; that intellectual and material gifts brought the privilege and responsibility of sharing with others less fortunate; and that service is the rent each of us pays for living the very purpose of life and not

something that you do in your spare time or after you have your personal goals.” -Marian Wright Edelman

Chapter 3:Social Justice and Learning Immersion

Global Outreach communities learn about various issues of injustice and seek to address the causes of injustice that are rooted in our society. Many projects learn about issues such as inadequate housing, disparities of wealth, HIV/AIDS services, hunger, environmental sustainability, immigration, and atrocities of war. Through examining issues of poverty and injustice, Global Outreach communities come to an enhanced understanding of their role in the greater world community.

There are certain elements that are critical for the success of any social justice and learning immersion project. Challenge yourself, your leader, and your team to keep these elements in the forefront of your work.

Understanding: Throughout the project you will be called to be understanding and compassionate. You’ll never be able to full understand another culture, but by immersing yourself in a community and living as the people of that community do, you come to better understand the issues and how the community interprets the issues present in their country. As a participant, you will need to let go of your own reservations and try to understand the needs of your team and the people with whom you are living and working. This mindset will allow you to broaden your perspectives and awareness while deepening your connection to the customs, beliefs, traditions, history, food, and lifestyle of a new culture.

Orientation and Training: Nobody expects you to go in knowing how to build the house or how to change cloth diapers – you are expected to learn. The first step of any learning immersion project is the orientation and training process. If you don’t know something – ask. It will benefit everyone if you do.

Reflection: Reflections allow for the sharing of experiences, reactions, stories, and feelings. You should reflect at all group reflections, as well as on your own. Reflecting will help you process the events and consider how you are growing in the experience, and give you a deeper, more profound understanding of your role in creating change, and awareness of social justice issues.

Evaluation: The evaluative process should be incorporated from the beginning of your team meetings. As a team, it’s important to ask yourself some important questions as you prepare for your immersion experience:

What does the community think are the issues? The causes? The solutions? What works? What doesn’t work? Are we a part of the problem? Can we aid in the solution? How can we integrate solutions into our everyday decision making?

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Allow yourself to take a step back and consider that what we believe to be the best solutions from our perspective may not actually be what the community things is best for them; coming into a community and telling them what’s best for them is not only paternalistic, but it is unsustainable in the long-run. Evaluate your own actions, the actions of the team, and so on. Without feedback, nothing can be improved for future endeavors.

Solidarity Rather Than Charity: There is an important distinction to be made when doing social justice and learning immersion projects: the distinction between accompanying communities in order to create solidarity and the notion of “helping” or “fixing” communities. Even though a team may be learning solidarity through direct service, the focus is not on doing something for the community, but rather, partnering with the community. This becomes a participatory process in which the community identifies their needs and we work in solidarity to take the actions necessary to improve the quality of life. The semantics are not nearly as important as the concept.

In the end, it’s very easy to see that we in fact are benefitting and learning much more from the experience than actually making any significant improvements or changes to the community or the lives of the people we work with. While this can be an uncomfortable idea, it should not be too discouraging. By being aware of this going into the project, we can do our best to focus on understanding the issues, the importance of the community’s perspective, and being informed in our own daily lives. Take what you learn from immersing yourself in the culture and let it impact you.

For a model of solidarity, we can look to the philosophy of one of our partnering organizations, Community Links International. Community Links seeks to connect the local with the global. It fosters relationships that cross cultures and borders, focusing on our shared humanity and the commonality between people. Please think about and reflect on these ideas, and how you are a part of the “Globalization of Solidarity.” From the Community Links website, http://www.commlinks.org:

We feel it is critically important to work for the “Globalization of Solidarity,” as Bishop Samuel Ruiz Garcia (Honorary Co-President of Community Links) has termed it. These efforts create real possibilities for all those who choose to work for just alternatives among equals. In order to weave together the networks of communication and solidarity, we participate in efforts focused on just labor, fair trade, education, ecology, migration, organic practices, cultural values and public policy.

We focus much of our volunteer efforts and community participation on local and indigenous values, such as “tequio” and “guelaguetza.” Tequio refers to the practice of lifelong community service for the benefit of the whole, while simultaneously guaranteeing individual rights and responsibilities, and is present in different forms and under different names throughout the Americas. Guelaguetza refers to the practice of sharing one’s wealth, however that may be defined…We believe they serve as valuable guideposts for us and for our program participants as we evaluate our own individualistic values and lifestyles in the US. Tequio and Guelaguetza, as lived out in Community Links’ projects, are key elements for community development and active participation in civic and social processes both in our sending communities as well as our receiving communities.

The dimensions of reciprocity and co-responsibility that we experience in Community Links engender the creative capacity to nurture local self-governance and the ability proactively create new proposals and innovative solutions for local quandaries and global challenges.

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Chapter 4:Community

Global Outreach teams are formed around the principle of communal living. Each team is assembled several months prior to the project’s travel dates and during this time the team works to achieve solidarity and interdependence through team meetings, reflections, and a retreat. During the project, the community shares meals, living space, expenses, as well as similar struggles and successes. In addition to developing community with the immediate team, the GO community seeks to immerse itself in the fabric and culture of the host community. Upon returning from their project, GO communities are encouraged to maintain their team dynamic through further reflections, team activities, and communication with the host community. 

One of the most important and fun parts of the project is community living. You will establish bonds that go beyond normal everyday interactions. You will become a family during the project. It is important to be aware of team dynamics as the project progresses.

Here is a general understanding of a four-stage process of team building developed by Morgan Scott Peck:

1. Pseudo-community. Everyone is polite and not very authentic. Similarities are latched onto and differences ignored. This is a preliminary attempt to avoid any discomfort.2. Chaos. Differences are no loner ignored. Members try to convert others to their ways of thinking and often stop listening to one another. 3. Emptiness. Individuals begin to examine their barriers to authentic communication. Members begin to evaluate their preconceived notions, beliefs, prejudices, needs, and controlling desires. Effective listening and authentic sharing begins to emerge.4. Community. The full range of emotions can now be expressed. The group can share comfortably and work well together. One consideration though: once this stage is reached, it does not mean that things cannot push the team back into a previous stage.

These stages are not linear. Teams may go back and forth between stages. Also, not everyone feels included in the community in the same way. Some individuals may feel they are not included in the group process. The team must continually evaluate itself to see where each member is in the group process.

Being part of a community is a responsibility. All members agree to consider others before themselves. Everyone must participate in the meetings, reflections, and the work for the team to be able to become a truly cohesive unit.

Some Tips for Successful Community Living: Speak concretely, rather than abstractly, about your needs so that there is no

confusion about what you really want from the other members. Use “I” and “me” rather than speaking in general terms.

Listen carefully to what others are telling you. Do not formulate a response until they are done speaking, and, before responding, take a reflective moment to take in what they have said.

Be aware of your own barriers, prejudices, expectations, and ideologies since they can all be obstacles to the community process.

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Be willing to share your pain with the group and allow the pain of others to impact you. Your team is a small, intimate group of people with whom you can feel safe to be emotionally vulnerable.

Understand the value of silence in communication – your own and that of others.

Participate in group activities and allow the contributions of others to make an impact on you.

Be considerate of space, cleanliness, and the feelings of others when you act. (Respect those people who are resting, keep your luggage neat, etc.)

Tensions will arise and communication problems will need to be addressed. The leader will facilitate resolving issues that arise during the project, but everyone must also contribute so as to foster a sense of community.

Keep these things in mind when problems arise: Individuals have different ways of expressing their feelings. Some people talk

immediately, and some need time to reflect before they are ready to talk. Do not assume you know how another team member feels. If a discussion is getting tense, the team can decide to postpone the discussion

until a time when everyone has calmed down. A brief time out can be taken by anyone at any time if they are uncomfortable.

A natural part of the project is dialogue between members. Not everyone will have similar views on all issues. It is helpful to discuss these differences to bring awareness of your point of view to others, but it should never be done in a confrontational way. Team members who are not able to agree should “agree to disagree.” Reflections are a safe place to discuss your feelings, and build an understanding and mutual respect for one another. Please reach out to the leader, chaperone, or GO Staff if necessary.

“We must love them both, those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject, for

both have labored in search for truth, and both have helped us in finding it.” -St. Thomas Aquinas

Chapter 5: Spirituality

Global Outreach, as an inclusive organization, welcomes all beliefs and promotes respect for and acceptance of the beliefs of team members and religions encountered at a project’s destination. In promoting inclusiveness and respect, GO encourages dialogue about religious and spiritual differences. It is both a physical and a spiritual journey and each participant is asked to partake in team reflections to assist each other in understanding the various ways in which we process the emotionally and physically challenging aspects of a Global Outreach experience. Reflection also serves as a vehicle to combine faith and action. It is important to share your spiritual growth and to understand the spiritual nature and growth of your community.

Remember: each member brings their own unique perspective of the world to the team, and this is not meant to limit anyone’s perception of the universe; rather, it offers insight into Global Outreach’s roots.

Jesuit Education: A Model of ServiceFr. Pedro Arrupe, former Jesuit Superior, tells us that the purpose of Jesuit education is to form

men and women for and with others. Jesuit institutions need to respond to reality and help their students to become aware of what is going on around them. As Fr. Gabriel Codina S.J. states, “Everyone in our

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institutions – professors, students, families, and all those who work for us need to have a thorough understanding that we exist for the poor and that our priority and commitment is to them.” The actions of the Jesuit University should be on behalf of the poor.

With a basic understanding of Global Outreach’s spiritual foundations, it is important that you now turn to your own spirituality. Team members will be asked to participate in reflections, and to understand the concept of faith in justice.

What is a reflection anyway? Spirituality is exercised individually and communally during a GO experience. One of the main

avenues of communal spiritual richness is through team reflections. Teams reflect after their weekly meetings, while on their project, and during follow up meetings. Reflections allow each individual to share their spiritual journey and to help each other process the many challenging issues encountered during the GO experience. Since each person processes their experiences differently, reflection provides a vehicle to allow each person to bring their spiritual journey to the communal table and to support one another throughout their GO challenges and triumphs.

Reflection has several aspects including meditation, critical thinking, education, evaluation, and prayer. Making connections between the work that you do and your own interest in social change has far-reaching effects that can transform the way you think about your classes, your relationships, and your life goals. It is also through reflection that the team can become sensitive to community issues and share experiences. It helps everyone to feel nurtured and supported through the project.

Leaders will set the tone for reflections but here are some things to keep in mind: Be open and honest about your feelings Talk in the “I” Reflection is different from a dialogue or discussion. Team members should

refrain from commenting on another person’s reflection, either agreeing or disagreeing, as it is a personal contribution.

Everything that is said in reflection stays in the reflection space Listen carefully, and allow yourself to grow by the thoughts of others Be careful that your own opinions are expressed as such, opinions, not facts or

universal truths. This will avoid offending others who may have differing opinions

Reflection space should be a safe, open space If you become uncomfortable, talk to the leader so that things can be worked out Maintain the confidentiality of your teammates’ reflections

Personal reflection is just as important as group reflection. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the project and not take time to process the experience. It is important to take time for journaling, prayer, meditation, or other forms of personal reflection. It is also important to remember to start these reflections early in the project so that you do not become overwhelmed later. Take time to journal early in your experience, and continue to do so throughout the project.

“The greatest challenge of the day is how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us.”

-Dorothy Day

Chapter 6:Simple Living/Cultural Immersion

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Global Outreach communities are asked to live simple lifestyles that promote personal relationships over material possessions, ultimately allowing for a more in-depth cultural immersion. For some, simple living might entail limited access to water for bathing which addresses the water crisis in many of our host communities. For others it could be a simple meal to better understand the lack of equal food distribution. Simple living allows the Global Outreach communities to fully immerse themselves in the local culture and to obtain deeper personal relationships while spending their energy focusing on their community.

In order to focus on the growth of the Global Outreach community as well as the relationships with the host community, we ask that you only bring along basic items with you. This is to ensure the safety of the team and to help maintain the integrity of the communal experience. Electronic devices such as smart phones, e-readers, laptops, pagers, iPads, iPods, etc. should not be brought on the project. They will detract from the community experience and could jeopardize the safety of the team. The GO staff will set up a recorded phone message where your team can leave a detailed message indicating your safe arrival and your daily activities. The messages also serve a great opportunity for your loved ones to learn about your immersion into the fabric of the host community.

During each project you will have the chance to experience how another culture lives. This is true whether you are on a domestic or an international project. You will be immersed in the realities of different communities with their own traditions, histories, and structures. Focusing on the simple things in life (i.e., personal relationships) will allow for a greater understanding of this cultural richness.

It is normal to feel overwhelmed at times. This next section provides typical phases of adjustment to a new culture. Not everyone goes through each phase in the same order, but they provide a good model of what you may feel.

The Honeymoon: Everything is new and exciting. You are mainly an observer, taking in the sights and forming impressions. Culture Shock: Reality sets in. Differences in the group are emerging, hostilities are developing, and daily activities seem like problems. The food, the people, the poverty – it all seems to be too much. You begin to wonder what you are doing and start to feel homesick. You feel as though you must either renounce your own culture and adopt this new one or cling blindly to what you already know and are comfortable with.Feeling at Home: You begin to accept the new culture as another way of living. You may not like everything about it, but you can tolerate and understand it. You may embrace the culture as being superior to what you are used to and feel as though you never want to leave. The streets, the work, the way of life – you want to adopt them as your own. Departure Concerns: You start to think about returning home. Will you remember any of the feelings you felt? Will you be able to fit in to your old life? You are having mixed feelings about leaving.The Return: “Home” seems different. You feel as though you are the only thing that is different and you are no longer comfortable in your life. Re-adjustment can take several days to several weeks. You take on new perspectives in reference to your friends, goals, and routines. Be open to the culture that you are visiting: Learn from it, refrain from judgments, and bring home an understanding of it that you can share with others. That will be the best gift that you can receive from the project, and in the end it is the one with the longest impact.

Chapter 7:Follow-up

As previously mentioned, Each GO project has three distinct phases: the preparation period, the immersion experience, and the follow up. The follow up is often difficult for summer projects whereas they customarily return after the academic year has ended. However, for the winter and spring projects, the follow up period is considered equally important as the other aspects of the project. 

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During the follow up period, the teams are required to conduct several meetings, continue with their fundraising (if needed), and focus on ways to incorporate their GO experience into their everyday lives. The follow up period is essential in that the encounters on the project are often difficult to process. In addition, each community acts as a support to help each other through this time of process and reflection. The teams are also encouraged to continue their communication with the host community as solidarity and relationship building are the cornerstones of GO. 

The Board will conduct follow up events after the winter and spring projects to allow the teams to share their experiences with the greater GO and Fordham communities. There are also several on campus resources to continue learning about social justice, simple living, community, and spirituality. In particular, the Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice offers an array of local service opportunities in New York City. The Office of Campus Ministry also offers numerous spiritual retreats throughout the academic year.   

Some ideas to help with the re-adjustment: Get involved! Talk about the experience with friends and family. Discuss what you have learned

with family. Continue to ask questions of yourself and reflect on your experience: Where did

you feel the most passionate? Challenged? Enriched? How will this affect the way you are in the world? How will this experience continue to shape your life?

Continue to communicate with your teammates. Visit the Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice on the first floor of

McGinley, or at csprh@fordham.edu, to inquire about service and immersion opportunities working with non-profit and grassroots’ organizations in the Bronx.

Participate in a retreat. Contact Erin Hoffman, the Retreat Coordinator, at ehoffman12@fordham.edu for more details.

Make changes in your old routines to include some of the new ideas that you have learned.

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing that you think you cannot do.”

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Chapter 8Final Words

Global Outreach has sent hundreds of Fordham students on learning immersion projects domestically and internationally for over 50 years. You are now a part of this family. Welcome!

Some students have gone on to serve after graduation in various social justice programs such as the Peace Corps, Jesuit volunteer Corps, AmeriCorps, and Teach for America. Others have gone on to become teachers, social workers, or policy advocates. Whatever you do after this project, remember the people you have met and the community that you learned from and accompanied. Solidarity is a human relationship, and it is inspired through lived experience. This invites us to be more human, and exercise a sense of interconnectedness and shared experience right here and now.

When asked why he continued to work with U.S. students on social justice and immersion projects, a program manager in Mexico (Adolfo Noguez of the Los Niños Program) said that if he sees one student go on to help Mexico through one decision, perhaps a legal or political decision, somewhere down the road, he has been successful in impacting the future of his country.

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That is how the world is changed – one person at a time. It’s now up to you – what will you do?

“Get involved…the world is run by those who show up.” -Unknown author

“Go and Set the World on Fire” -St. Ignatius of Loyola

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