A 12-member team from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, visited the UAC-CP January 14 – 25, 2019, for the third year in a row as part of UST’s VISION program.

VISION organizes domestic and international service and cultural immersion trips during J-term and spring break. According to UST’s Office for Service and Social Justice website, “VISION trips are formed around six components: Service, Simplicity, Spirituality, Community, Cultural Exchange, and Justice Issues. The group in Carmen Pampa was organized by two UST student leaders and accompanied by a UST staff member.

During the group’s 12-day stay at the College in Carmen Pampa, they participated in a variety of educational activities, including: a tour of the coffee plant and the opportunity to help process coffee; visit to the local health post to learn about Bolivian health care policy and health challenges facing the local people; and a meeting with a member of the local community to learn about agrarian reform and indigenous rights. Students also helped out with a variety of projects on campus by providing hands-on service in the organic vegetable gardens and tutoring UAC-CP students in the English classes. Evenings provided students with the time to play fútsol, to participate in cultural nights with dancing and signing, and to share reflections of their experience with other group members.

The University of St. Thomas is one of several U.S.-based universities that partners with the UAC-CP. University or youth groups interested in learning more about social justice-centered trips to Carmen Pampa, should contact Carmen Pampa Fund: 651-641-1588 or info@carmenpampafund.org.