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Traveling Spirits
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The eleven students participating in the winter trip to Guatemala come from a variety of high schools and universities, including King/Drew Magnet High School, (KDMHS), California Academy of Mathematics and Science (CAMS), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), and Dartmouth College. The students are (clockwise from the top left): Elizabeth Adabale is junior at KDMHS Neftali Gutierrez is a 2nd year student at UCLA Stephany Gutierrez is a senior at CAMS Brian Johnstone is a Ph.D. student at UCLA Leslie Mejia is a third year student at UCLA Ashley Ortiz is a junior at KDMHS Kenneth Pearce II is a junior at KDMHS Sal Rodriguez is a junior at KDMHS Eric Sanabria is a 2nd year student at Dartmouth Esmeralda Flores is a junior at KDMHS Coni Valle is a 2nd year student at UCSC
Student Trip to Guatemala December 25, 2007 to January 4, 2008
www.travelingspirits.org
Traveling Spirits History
Traveling Spirits began in early 2005 when a group of high school students and their teacher from King/Drew Magnet High School in south Los Angeles decided to attend the 16th World Festival of Youth and Students in Venezuela. The purpose of the trip was to meet people from around the world and learn about issues of imperialism, sexism, racism, and other forms of oppression. Coni Valle then created a school club called SPIRITT (Students Promoting Interest in Responsible Internationalism Through Travel) with the help of Brian Johnstone as faculty advisor. In another trip, students were exposed to some of the cultures and lifestyles of people living in Mexico. After the 2006 school year, several university students decided to create an organization that would provide opportunities for youth in the innercity to visit developing countries, learn about issues of global inequality, and develop skills to become leaders in the struggle against oppression. We are Students Promoting Intelligent and Responsible Internationalism through Travel and Study.
Guatemala
Dec. 25-Jan. 4
Colonialism and Exploitation Prior to leaving on the expedition, students will conduct research about European colonialism and the experiences of indigenous populations. In Guatemala, the students will engage in discourse about the history of exploitation in Central America and observe how oppression continues to dominate life for many communities in Central America.
Students participating in this winter’s expedition to Guatemala will gain a unique insight into numerous aspects of life in Central America. The program will include pre-departure learning activities, a 10-day expedition throughout the country of Guatemala, and postexpedition presentations. While in Guatemala, students will meet with Guatemalans from a wide spectrum of society, visit historic and cultural sites, and live with a Guatemalan family.
Labor and Economy Students will learn about the changing roles and conditions of labor for men, women and children in Guatemala society, particularly for indigenous populations. Youth Exchange Participants will meet with Guatemalan students in urban and rural settings to engage in a shared dialogue about experiences living in Central America and the United States.