Global Insights Presents: El Salvador
Andrew Patterson ‘20, Emily Locascio ‘20, Mei Lin McElhill ‘20In June 2019, a group of University students traveled to El Salvador for an immersion experience they would never forget. Mei Lin McElhill ’20, a counseling and human services major, exclaimed “I am ruined!" in her article featured in Royal News on June 24.
The international service trip hosted by University Campus Ministries in conjunction with CHRISPAZ (Christians for Peace in El Salvador) takes students and chaperones into the heart of a small community to live and walk with the people, experiencing the environment of an unstable third world country. Join us for the next Global Insights lunch and learn featuring Scranton students Mei Lin McElhill ‘20, Andrew Patterson ’20, an exercise science major, and Emily Locascio ’20, a biology major, for an eye-opening presentation on the country and culture of El Salvador. This event will be held on November 21, 2019 beginning at 11:30 a.m. in Brennan Hall, Rose Room 509. Registration is required for this event.
Locascio got a sense of a day in the life of her host family, Juana and Julio, during her week-long stay. She relates that even though they lived in circumstances that could become dangerous at any time, they enjoyed simple lives filled with love and selflessness. “The people you surround yourself with is what actually creates your experience,” she said.
Patterson spoke of their impactful visit to the Centro Escolar grade school in Suchitoto. This K-5 school was a small concrete structure with walls to separate each grade into small classrooms. “Students struggle to get to school. They have few books and no computers. Many kids drop out so they can go to work to support their families,” said Patterson.
McElhill shared that there are new initiatives happening to empower women and connect the marginalized with the middle to upper-class population. “They think about their community and how to pull their country up the ladder. They are very self-conscious about the environment which aligns with our Jesuit values,” she said.
This program is being offered by The Office of Global Education, the Cross Cultural Centers, Residence Life and the Office of Equity and Diversity. A light lunch featuring cuisine from the highlighted country will be served. Registration for this event is required.
For more information, please contact Huey Shi Chew at hueyshi.chew@scranton.edu or 570-941-7575.
