Kowzar Ahmed on Sustainability and Social Justice in Ecuador program.

An international studies major, Kowzar Ahmed studied abroad on the Sustainability and Social Justice in Ecuador education abroad program during winter break 2022. The program is organized by the College of Education and Human Ecology.

"One of the most memorable parts of the 11-day winter break Sustainability and Social Justice in Ecuador education abroad program was visiting the indigenous Kichwa community in the Amazon region. During our visit, community members educated us about their culture, history, and language. I had so much fun watching the community members show us their cultural dance, and they even encouraged us to participate in the dance. We learned about how women in the community support their local economy by creating jewelry and other handmade crafts. We experienced the preparation of the traditional chicha beverage, which is made of fermented yucca, and enjoyed the opportunity to taste it."

Organized by the College of Education and Human Ecology, the program travelled to Quito, the Amazon region and Cuenca to explore topics such as sustainability, food security, indigenous rights, and women’s rights as they relate to social justice in a global context.

"Before arriving to Ecuador, I was nervous about the homestay aspect since I’ve never done anything like that before. I’m glad the program allowed students to be partnered up for each homestay. All my worries were gone when I was greeted by my host family at the airport. They were so welcoming and kind throughout my entire stay. We spent New Year’s Eve with our host family, and it was great to experience all the cultural celebrations. Even though my host family didn’t speak much English, kindness needs no translation. Also, I’m very grateful of how understanding and patient my host family were when I spoke to them in Spanish. I appreciated how they accommodated to my dietary restrictions because I was a little worried about that before the trip. I’ll never forget the great care I received during my time in Cuenca."

"I’m very grateful for the Gilman Scholarship for allowing me to study abroad without the financial burden. The scholarship covered my entire tuition for the trip, and this support allowed me to take additional Spanish class before my trip. As an international studies major, learning about culture is important aspect in my academic work. Studying abroad provided a great opportunity to experience cultural immersion rather than simply reading about it. Learning about different sustainable practices made me shift unsustainable practices that I practiced."

"I would recommend studying abroad to everyone. I experienced personal growth by pushing myself outside of my comfort zone every day. I think navigating Cuenca and using Spanish to order food, hail taxis, and shop at the stores helped develop my confidence. I’ll forever remember my study abroad trip because of all the great experiences and people I met throughout the program."