VISIONS Guadeloupe

  Guadeloupe

Sainte Anne

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: June 30 - July 27

Description: Visions offers teenagers opportunities for ambitious service work and cross-cultural immersion in the United States and abroad. We work with and for intercultural communities that lack financial and other development resources. Through service, authentic experience, and active exploration, we encourage new perspectives and dynamic learning.

This Caribbean island offers service within the language immersion setting of a French speaking culture. Guadeloupe is a department of France with a diverse cultural history. French is the official language, spoken with a musical island lilt. Creole is a second mother tongue testifying to Guadeloupe's historical ties to Africa and other sources of immigration. The complex at times tragic history of the French West Indies has produced a people that today celebrate the diversity of their origins even as they struggle for a collective identity that they may call "Guadeloupean". This is apparent, for example, in the unique local cuisine that often combines French sauces, curry spices and fresh seafood. The faces of its people tell Guadeloupe's history. Since Columbus's landing in 1492 the island has seen English, Spanish, and French Colonial settlers from Europe as well as the importation of slaves from Africa and indentured servants from Asian India. Traditions imported from these continents have blended over the centuries. Today, the hallmarks of Carnival, the French celebration, are Indian madras costumes and African musical rhythms. As a department of France, Guadeloupe has not suffered the economic hardships of other independent Caribbean islands. Most Guadeloupeans perceive their continuing dependence upon metropolitan France as a two-edged sword, bringing relative economic stability at the price of independence and identity. In Guadeloupe you will be challenged to understand service as meeting both the material and social needs of a community. In the special context of language immersion, community service involves both giving and receiving as one builds meaningful relationships across cultures.

Highlights: We live on tranquil Terre de Bas, one of Iles Des Saintes, the tiny islands forming the southernmost Guadeloupean Archipelago. Our service on Terre de Bas varies from renovating public buildings devastated by recent earthquakes to paving walkways and landscaping in the cemetery to clearing trails with Service Technique and aiding with the construction of traditional medicinal gardens. We work with young children, and we apprentice with fishermen, sorbet vendors, and an artisan who weaves fishermen's salakus, wide round-brimmed hats unique to the Saintes. We will enjoy Beguine dancing, Zouk and Gwoka music and the persistent, irresistible drumming. With excursions to "mainland" Guadeloupe we will explore waterfalls, rain forests, and La Soufriere, an active volcano. We swim and snorkel, and scuba dive in one of Jaques Cousteau's favorite lagoons. Your French speaking skills will inevitably improve. Participants in Guadeloupe must have a minimum of two years of high school French or equivalent fluency in French.

Qualifications: Two years high school French or equivalent

Cost in US$: 5150

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 14-18

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Guadeloupe in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 24

Scholarships are Available.

Application Process Involves:

• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Visions Service Adventures's Mission Statement: VISIONS offers teenagers opportunities for ambitious service work and cross-cultural immersion in the United States and abroad. We work with and for intercultural communities that lack financial and other development resources. Through service, authentic experience, and active exploration, we encourage new perspectives and dynamic learning.

Year Founded: 1989