Global Engagement Summer Institute in South Africa - Accepting applications until April 15th!

» General Information

Location:

Manyaleti, South Africa

Description:

The Global Engagement Summer Institute (GESI) is a two-course summer study abroad program focused on community development in a global context. Students from around the country learn about international development, global engagement practices, project management, leadership, and the realities of contemporary Bolivian, Indian, Nicaraguan, South African or Ugandan life by connecting them with community based organizations to co-design and collaboratively implement a small-scale community development project. GESI starts with a 7-10 day training institute at Northwestern University in which students prepare for their project-based immersion by taking two courses—Intro to International Community Development and Theory and Practice of Community Consulting—as well as learning from guest speakers about the cultural, historical, political, and economic background of their country. Students then spend 7 weeks in either Bolivia, India, Nicaragua, South Africa or Uganda living in home stays, working with a local non profit in a team of five, and participating in guest lectures and discussion with local experts and a Northwestern TA. GESI concludes with a 2-3 day comparative final summit in Chicago.

Terms:

Summer term: June 18- August 20. (Pre-departure training at Northwestern: June 19 - 24; overseas component: June 24 - August 16; final summit at Northwestern Aug 18- 20)

Sponsor:

Center for Global Engagement

Website:

Global Engagement Summer Institute

Program Contact:

  • Nicole Patel, Assistant Director, Center for Global Engagement 620 Library Place Phone: 847-467-0844
  • Bethany Park, Program Manager, Center for Global Engagement 620 Library Place Phone: 847-467-4394

» Apply Now

Summer Application

» Related Links

» Other Programs in South Africa

Northwestern Requirements

Cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Academic Specialties

International community development, non-profit organizations, cross-cultural collaboration, community engagement, history/culture/politics, South African studies, internship.

Course Type

NU courses:
  • International Studies 390: Approaches to International Development
  • Communication Studies 395: Theory and Practice of International Community Consulting

Additional Information

Policies:
  • Read about the refund, cancellation and withdrawal policies for Northwestern's summer study abroad programs
  • All students who participate in Northwestern Study Abroad programs are required to purchase HTH health insurance. Read about HTH costs and enrollment.
  • All students who participate in Northwestern Study Abroad programs must register prior to their departure with International SOS, a free travel and security assistance program. For registration instructions, click here.

Housing

Homestays

Program Costs

Summer 2011 fees = $7,500 which includes:

  • Tuition for two Northwestern courses
  • Lodging, food and city transport during pre-departure training and Final Learning Summit in Chicago
  • In-country programming, including an orientation upon arrival, a mid-term field trip, a home-stay with three meals a day, language instruction, biweekly guest speakers, transportation stipend for travel to and from work, and ongoing oversight and support.

Financial Aid: Northwestern students receiving financial aid during the academic year may be eligible for summer aid for this program. If funding is available, it may count as one of their 12 quarters of aid. For more information, please contact Leah Chamberlain, Assistant Director of Study Abroad Financial Services, at 847-491-7400. Non-Northwestern students should contact the Financial Aid office at their home institution.

GESI Scholarships: The Global Engagement Summer Institute will offer partial to full need-based scholarships to NU students. Award are based on financial need, essay quality and academic merit. Underrepresented minority students are encouraged to apply. See here for more details.

Application Requirements

Global Engagement Summer Institute deadlines:

December 15: Priority application deadline 1
January 14: Priority application deadline 2
April 15: Final application deadline for Northwestern and non-Northwestern students

Students must follow the application guidelines listed on the CGE website.

Note: Make sure your passport is valid through February of the following year. If you are planning to apply to this program and you do not yet have a passport (or need to renew your current passport), you should begin this process as soon as possible so that it is completed by the time of application in early March.  The processing time for a passport application is approximately 6-8 weeks. For more information on how to apply for or renew a passport, please visit the State Department's passport web site.

Contact Returnees

Northwestern students may enter this section of the site for a list of students who participated in this program.