Immersion Experiences are designed for all Gettysburg College students.
On this page:
Women’s Rights and Islam in Morocco
Many outside of Islam believe that the tradition puts restrictions on women with regards to property rights, education, dress, marriage, and employment. But are all of these ideas well informed or are they stereotypes based on media portrayals?
Morocco is an Islamic country. Moving past the media headlines, this project will introduce participants to women and young people in Morocco to see what life for them is really like. We will meet women who work in Parliament, women spreading the concept of Islamic Feminism, and NGOs who work to support women in areas of employment and education. Participants will stay with homestay families allowing them to experience authentic home life and food while in Rabat. While the project is based in the capital city of Rabat, participants will take excursions to both Marrakesh and Casablanca.
Food, Globalization, and Sustainability in Nepal
Nepal is best known for its mountain peaks (home to eight of the world’s highest mountains, including Mount Everest) and hospitable people. Nepal also has rich and diverse food practices founded on organic farming and local, seasonal eating that is both highly nutritious and community-oriented. Being primarily an agricultural society, the majority of the population derives food security from its land. Both globalization and climate change present challenges to the stability and sustainability of Nepal’s food system. This project will focus on understanding current challenges and identifying organizations promoting community development, agricultural production, and innovative practices in Nepal.
Post-Genocide Peacebuilding and Development in Rwanda
The history of Rwanda is stained with tensions and conflicts between the majority Hutu people and the minority Tutsi population. In 1994, in the midst of the Rwandan Civil War, the radical conservative Hutu political elite seized control following the assassination of President Habyarimana and began a systematic genocide of both Tutsi and moderate Hutu people. In 100 days, between 500,000 and 1.3 million people were killed in Rwanda.
In the wake of these unspeakably terrible events, Rwanda has made significant efforts to rebuild the social fabric of the country. This immersion project will examine the 1994 genocide and Rwanda’s efforts to foster peace, unity, and reconciliation. Participants will learn about economic reconstruction from professionals working in peacebuilding, transitional justice, and development. The group will visit communities working to reconcile and rebuild, and experience everyday life in this post-conflict region.
LGBTQ+ Rights and Struggle in Mexico
The 2011 Human Rights Amendments to the Mexican Constitution reformed and improved constitutional protections for specific human rights, increasing protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in Mexico. For this project, students will focus on the history of LGBTQ+ activism in Mexico, exploring the struggles for non-discrimination laws, same sex unions and/or marriage and Trans Rights laws. Participants will engage with different perspectives regarding gender and sexuality through community members’ contemporary involvement in creating queer history through the arts, media, politics, political activism, religion, and more. Participants will learn from different voices in diverse communities.
Eisenhower Leadership Conference
The Eisenhower Leadership Conference is a free, full-day, interactive experience that provides personal and professional skills training to students who desire a deeper understanding of key principles that contributed to President Eisenhower's success. All participants will receive a free copy of How Ike Led by Susan Eisenhower.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Learn and practice how to apply lessons from President Eisenhower’s military and presidential leadership in today's environment.
- Develop strategic thinking, team building, and effective decision-making skills.
- Discover the important roles of discipline, mental clarity, motivation, and accountability in becoming a leader driven by a sense of purpose, with the ability to effect positive change.