Engage in St. Martin

ANTH 3550: Social Change, Sustainability,
and Postcolonial Identity in the Caribbean
ANTH 3890: Service Learning
May 26 - June 10, 2020

 
Application deadline: Monday, March 6th, 2020
Decision Date: March 20,2020
Program cost: $3,290
 
Course Description
The St. Martin Program is an intensive, immersive service-learning program that combines a 3-credit class (ANTH 3550: Social Change, Sustainability, and Postcolonial Identity in the Caribbean) with community engagement. Students can earn Africana Studies credit upon request. The course is based in the small binational island of St. Martin (Lesser Antilles). It includes a mandatory, zero-credit service-learning component of 40 hours (ANTH 3890: Service Learning), which satisfies the 2nd tier service-learning requirement. The primary purpose of the program is for students to meaningfully engage with locals, work and meet with community members committed to cultural, food, and economic sustainability, as well as gain an in-depth understanding of anthropological concepts and research methodology, especially as they relate to postcolonial contexts and the shaping of cultural/linguistic identities and socio-economic/political systems. By working with the organization 4 Real We Agree With Culture—a nonprofit run by a group of well-established Rastafari elders, students will get firsthand exposure to efforts by locals to create alternatives from full dependency on the tourism industry and imported goods by cultivating the soil, reintroducing local plant species and cultural practices, educating youth, and fostering adult training and employment. The trip will also include hurricane relief efforts, which are still needed after two years after the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma.

Program Objectives
The “Engage in St. Martin” program is designed to:

• Develop student participants' understanding of basic ethnographic methodology and anthropological theory through lectures, written assignments, and fieldwork exercises;
• Introduce students to an array of programs that promote cultural, food, and economic sustainability, develop close mentorships with Rastafari members of the 4 Real We Agree With Culture association, and learn from local community leaders, officials, artists, activists, scholars, and writers;
• Expose students to the history and contemporary social issues of the Caribbean, as well as grassroots and social movements, including the Rastafari movement;
• Incorporate engaged scholarship approaches into students' academic learning to gain a firsthand sense of the socio-political and economic canvas shaping the island's realities. 

Service Projects
Tulane students will engage in community service projects with the nonprofit organization 4 Real We Agree With Culture, founded and run by Rastafari elders and youth. Some of the activities that students will partake in include:

• Learning about biodiversity in St. Martin and agricultural methods and strategies by tending to an urban garden, preparing organic produce grown at the garden for sale, and cooking vegetarian meals using produce and traditional Caribbean seasonings;
• Tutoring youth and giving educational tours to school groups and tourists;
• Learning about the running of a nonprofit (administration, outreach, community events, fundraising, etc.) and the organization of agricultural/crafts fairs;
• Participating in workshops on the history and cultural relevance of local foodways, ethnobotany and traditional systems of knowledge, and the medicinal value of plants;
• Learning how to make drums and play traditional Guadeloupean and Rastafari beats;
• Learning about the Rastafari movement and its strong connections to nature. 

Consent of instructor. The following courses are recommended but not required: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (ANTH 1020), basic French and/or Haitian Kreyol, Introduction to Caribbean History (HISL 1720).

Program Costs:
$3,290 is the estimated total cost of the program. It includes:

• Tuition
• Room and Board
• In-country transportation
• Group Meals
• Medical and Travel Insurance

Scholarships
The Center for Public Service is pleased to be able to offer need-based scholarships of $1000 and merit-based scholarships of $500 for the St. Martin Program. Please complete and submit the CPS Scholarships Application in order to be considered. 
 
Payments and Deposits
Please make all payments promptly. No guarantee is given if payment is not received on time. A deposit of $750.00 is due with the application. Once you accept a place on the trip, the deposit becomes non-refundable and will be applied towards the total cost of the program. 
 
Passport & Visas
A valid passport is required for all U.S. citizens traveling to St. Martin. Requirements vary for other nationalities. International students should check the requirements for their respective countries. For U.S. passport fees and instructions, see the U.S. Department of State site: http://travel.state.gov/passport. You must submit a copy of your valid passport as a part of your application to participate in the St. Martin Program.
 
Medical & Crisis 24 Insurance
All students participating in CPS summer programs are covered by a comprehensive study abroad medical insurance policy provided through GeoBlue Travel Medical & International Health Insurance. This insurance is included in the cost of the program. The policy provides for accident, medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, and family assistance coverage. The policy does not provide for trip cancellation or baggage loss. Students are also covered by Crisis 24. This insurance assists students with various medical and safety needs as well as emergency needs such as emergency evacuation (for non-medical reasons) if necessary.
 
Accessibility for the Disabled
Tulane University is committed to making all its programs accessible to the physically challenged. Persons requiring special facilities should notify the specific program coordinator and the academic director as soon as possible (in writing). All efforts will be made to accommodate students.
 
Contact Information
For any further questions regarding the St. Martin Program, please contact:
         Megan Straughen, Senior Program Coordinator for International Experiences mstraughen@tulane.edu

Read more about the St. Martin Program in the New Wave!
St. Martin study abroad offers cross-cultural experience
 
Social Media:
Engage in St. Martin Facebook Page