TEAM MEMBERS
- Lucia Flores
- Katherine Selden
- Katie Bond
- Chase Webber
- John Hoopes
- Namibia Lebron
- Chloe Rossen
- Aliza Sandberg
- Denisha Mckenzie
- Mike Niconchuk
- Kathryn Taylor
- Scott A Mathews, Leader
- Diego Villalobos, Leader
Building Understanding through International Learning and Development
Mission
Building Understanding through International Learning and Development (BUILD) is an inter disciplinary student program that partners with rural communities to achieve sustainable solutions for social and economic development. BUILD seeks to inspire and prepare participants to engage in understanding, developing, and implementing sustainable development projects hand in hand with members of the local communities in which they work . The BUILD model consists of four key pillars: Education, Leadership, Action, and Solidarity. As such, the BUILD experience is intended to provide Tufts undergraduate students the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, experience, and perspective necessary to become effective leaders in the field of sustainable development, while providing tangible benefits to partner communities
Core programming
BUILD works under a four -part system:
• I. Preparation : students participate in a series of technical trainings as preparation for their research and service .
• II. Trip: students travel to Siuna, Nicaragua for a 10-day service learning experience that includes assisting with community-led sustainable development projects, working side by side and interacting with local residents and university students .
• III. Spring Course component: through in-depth research, unique faculty lectures, and student-led classes, the participants critically learn about sustainability and development.
• IV. Project Proposal/Implementation: participants, working together with faculty and community leaders, generate project proposals and plans to address community-identified needs.
• Organizational Structure :
• Participants: obtain skill set through trainings, determine a research focus ("lens-crafting") , develop a project proposal, and complete organizational tasks of the program.
• Leaders : are responsible for recruiting students, organizing meetings, leading the team in fieldwork, administering the course, delegating responsibilities to group members, and providing requisite support for students all the way.
• Program Facilitator : develop s and maintains BUILD's long-term strategy , selecting new leaders, helping the leaders realize their work, and act as a liaison between BUILD and its partners.
• Special Projects 2007-2008
• a. New Community Partnerships
• Intra-Tufts Organizational Collaborations