BELIZE

Counselor education abroad

(Contributed photos)

For eight days in June, 10 graduate students from the College of Education’s counselor education program traveled to Belize to learn with children and families in local schools.

Drs. Loni Crumb and Janeé Avent Harris led the group of students as part of a partnership program.

“The 2019 Family-School-Community Partnerships Study Abroad Program to Belize was designed to address the dearth of participation in international education travel programs among minority graduate students,” Crumb said.

These partnerships allowed the students to work with local schools and community agencies to tour schools and have discussions with counselors, families, school administrators and teachers. They attended several presentations while in Belize, including a community learning exchange presentation by local counselors and a presentation from Ava Pennill, a social work faculty member from the University of Belize. 

While in Belize, students learned about local schools, and they participated in an immersive Garifuna cultural experience where they learned about the Garifuna history, prepared a traditional meal from scratch and had a drumming lesson. They also experienced Mayan culture by preparing a traditional meal, learning their history and spiritual practices, and taking part in a traditional dance. Students also learned Belize history at the Goldson House, a museum and learning center that examines the life of Belizean national hero Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson.