African and Middle Eastern Studies
ISU Study Abroad and Service Learning Programs and Opportunities in Africa and the Middle East
Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods
The Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL), in ISU's College of Agriculture, is a unique effort dedicated to providing leadership and support that help alleviate hunger and poverty in developing countries.
Hunger and poverty are the result of multiple factors that limit the ability of individuals, families, and communities to meet their most basic needs. So CSRL's agriculture-focused work is grounded in solid social science principles and implemented through international multi-disciplinary and inter-institutional teams.
Since 2004, collaboration among faculty from five colleges at ISU and our Ugandan partner institutions has resulted in increased food security and incomes for small farmers in Kamuli district, Uganda. Participating farm families are more productive, and partner institutions are using indigenous and scientific knowledge to improve livelihoods, but there is much more work to do to develop and implement an effective, sustainable model that can empower more families and communities
www.srl.ag.iastate.edu/
Service Learning Program (Uganda)
The CSRL Service Learning program is available to Iowa State and Makerere University students providing them with practical cross-cultural experiences and an opportunity to improve the lives of the rural poor in Uganda. The Service Learning activities take place at two primary schools, Namasagali and Nakanyonyi, and serve several purposes. In 2007 school children were taught practical agricultural skills through their work in the school gardens and were enabled to share that knowledge with their parents and families. The school gardens, in which grow bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, fruits, and vegetables, also contribute to the nutritional content of the existing school lunches. The school garden program at Namasagali Primary School is progressing well, and further work is being done to develop the Nakanyonyi school garden.
www.srl.ag.iastate.edu/work/servicelearning/
Center or Sustainable Rural livelihoods and Des Moines University Nutrition and Health Service Learning (Uganda)
In 2007, three Des Moines University (DMU) medical students traveled to Uganda for seven weeks to work with VEDCO's Nutrition and Health Officer and staff in rural health centers that serve CSRL clients. They began their work by making home visits and isiting Namasagali and Nakanyonyi Primary Schools. As a result of their initial experience in the schools and learning about the school garden projects, they decided to perform medical examinations for all 950 school children in order to establish baseline data for the school garden projects and also increase knowledge about the health issues facing the children and their families. The medical students also lead a workshop to teach VEDCO staff, Community Nutrition Health Workers (CNHWs) and Kamuli Mulago Healthcare workers First Aid and CPR techniques.
www.srl.ag.iastate.edu/work/dmu/
Agriculture Study Abroad- College of Agriculture
This service learning internship allows six Iowa State students to work in Uganda developing a school garden for an elementary school in Kamuli District. This project is in partnership with the College of Agriculture's Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Program (SRL). Students will develop the garden and work with the teachers in grades 1 through 7 to develop curriculum in agriculture, science and nutrition using the garden. ISU students will work with SRL staff in Uganda, with VEDCO, a non-profit organization partnering with SRL and with four students and one faculty from Makerere University in Kampala. Students will spend the spring 2008 semester researching Uganda, school gardens and development models and will work with Makerere University students currently at ISU to develop their internship project, then will travel to Uganda to work with the school and implement their projects.
www.agstudyabroad.iastate.edu/travel_course_07Sum_Uganda.html
International Study Abroad in Rwanda and Tanzania
This service-learning program will allow 15-18 Iowa State students to work collaboratively with the Kigali Institute of Education pre-service teachers to develop, pilot, and implement a resource-based learning project focusing on an aspect of life skills or technology. Students will complete a service-learning activity an an area of interest in health, education, technology, and/or community service that promotes wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities in Rwanda. This involves identifying a global issue and taking action in collaboration with local peers. Prior to departure, students will learn about and research current issues in Rwanda; identify a topic of interest; develop a project outline, objectives, and ways of evaluating achievement. Graduate students will be required to complete an additional paper.
http://db.studyabroad.iastate.edu/globetrotter/?m=Program&id=292
Study in Africa (Mali). International Development. College of Engineering
ME/MatE 389X (3 credits). Applied Methods in Sustainable Engineering and International Development.This course focuses on learning how to work in a cross disciplinary team to develop and implement appropriate solutions for cooking, lighting, farming, and sanitation in a rural village in Mali. Students from a broad range of disciplines are encouraged to participate. Open to non-engineers. Satisfies International Perspective requirements.
www.vrac.iastate.edu/~kmbryden/studyabroad/index.php
International Field Trips in Biology:
Natural History of the Serengeti
The program is designed to provide students with a field trip experience that focuses on the natural history of the Serengeti and surrounding ecosystems, plus it blends in exposure to the local culture and agriculture. The program will include in-depth lectures and readings during the pre-trip seminar that will prepare students for the field trip. During the field trip, students will develop an appreciation of the biodiversity and ecology of wildlife in northern Tanzania, understand how people, agriculture and wildlife are influenced by the ecological regions of northern Tanzania, develop an understanding of the Maasai culture, and interact with the local people by visiting a school and working farm.
www.ent.iastate.edu/africafieldtrip/
Wild Animal Health and Conservation (South Africa)
Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine: VMPM 496
This course will give veterinary students the opportunity to learn about wildlife immobilization and veterinary practice in South Africa. Students will attend lectures and participate in field work. A variety of relevant topics will be taught, including infectious diseases, pharmacology of immobilization drugs, proper restraint of wild animals, and others.
www.brotherssafaris.com/wildlifeandimmobilsation.htm
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