JEST

There is a low percentage of first generation, low income and underrepresented groups of students who participate in study abroad. As an academic advisor in Student Support Services (SSS) working with the above group of students I have designed a study abroad service learning trip for this group of students. The study abroad service learning trip will take place in Ecuador because of the diversity of Ecuadorian people and a shared history of marginalizing groups of people by the colonizers. Students will spend four weeks in Ecuador studying the social, economic and cultural aspects of this society. The schedule includes language learning and application, opportunities for students to interact with the host country residents, cultural excursions and service learning projects with the Working Boys Center and Hogar de Cristo. This trip has been designed so that the participants will be able to travel and learn in an environment where they feel accepted by the other participants. When the participants return home, they will give presentations about an aspect of Ecuador of their choosing to present to other students in SSS so that other first generation, low income and underrepresented groups of students will be exposed to study abroad and service learning. Keywords: study abroad, service learning, underrepresented group