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Spotlight on "Student Success 2008" - November 2008
An Eye-Opening GIEU Experience
by Shadmani Kushi, CSP Sophomore
Third world countries are often portrayed as inferior to America, leading us to believe they have little to offer humanity. I have found this portrayal to be false. A country like the Philippines, though small and developing, is rich in history and culture. This past summer, I was given first-hand experience to the great resources of the Philippines through the Global Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates Program (GIEU) here at Michigan. This program sponsors international travel for students with the hope of gaining life-changing intercultural experiences. GIEU sponsors several 3 or 4 week programs each summer in different sites around the world. For example, this past summer, students traveled to Ghana, India, Kenya, Vietnam, and Italy to work on different projects. I was selected to participate in the Philippines project, which ran from June 5, 2008 to July 7, 2008.
Our project was geared towards determining the likelihood of establishing Community Based Rehabilitation Centers (CBR) in rural areas of the Philippines. We visited rural areas and spread awareness about disabled people in the community and the possibility of independent living for them. We spoke to health and government officials on how to establish these CBRs. While working on this project I also familiarized myself with the country and its customs. I learned that the Philippines has much to offer in terms of natural beauty, foods, and hospitality. Before traveling to the Philippines I spoke to some Filipinos and they did not understand why I would want to go there. They gave me a heads up about the traffic, the congested areas, the public bathrooms, and the temperature. Of course this precaution coming from the Filipinos themselves surprised me and made me have doubts about my decision, but I overlooked it all and was determined to make the best this experience. As it turned out there was traffic, congested areas, public bathrooms, it was very hot. While there I took in everything. I observed every detail carefully; from the way the streets seemed to have no imposed traffic laws, to noticing the presence of the Muslim minorities. The more I learned about the place and its customs the more I fell in love with it.
This trip to the Philippines exposed me to countless new situations. During our first week we went to the “Smokey Mountains,” which is a dumpsite that has been inhabited by people who are too poor to make a living in the city. I had never seen people actually living on top of a dumpsite. As I walked around, I noticed houses built out of mattress springs and other used materials. I saw kids, some of them almost naked, playing in garbage. I thought to myself how no human being should be subject to such conditions. I began to think how I could help these people. Donating a few dollars can only take them so far. I felt the same sense of helplessness when interviewing differently-abled people in many of the communities we visited. Some were so poor and did not have available transportation. They did not even have access to basic medical care. It was quite disheartening; however I decided that I can make small change in this country. Many of my peers think that the situations in a third world country are far removed and may not affect us at all. I have already started discussing the extent of poverty and the lack of medical care to my friends. I try to keep the issues of the third world in their conscious minds. Hopefully they will think twice when before throwing away extra food or clothes. My experiences can help me and my friends realized how blessed we are. I strongly recommend GIEU to anyone who wants to gain intercultural awareness.
