An International Education
by Karen Ostergren
Education doctoral student spends five weeks educating in rural Malawi
Emily VanCourt has only one speed: fast.
At the end of June — less than six weeks after earning her education master’s degree at MU — she’s traveling to Malawi, Africa. There she’ll spend five weeks educating children about HIV/AIDS prevention, gender equality, and other environmental and human rights issues.
She’s gone through rounds of shots in preparation for the trip. She’ll proudly show off her World Health Organization card listing line upon line of her immunizations, many for diseases most Americans don’t worry about. Even so, VanCourt says, she’s excited. The thing she’s dreading? No surprise, it’s the plane rides between Columbia and Malawi. The trip takes two days, with almost 24 hours of in-air flying time. “I just can’t sit still for that long,” VanCourt says, laughing.
She, along with the other volunteers in her group, will host a series of three-day camps for children in rural Malawian towns. Many of their activities will take place outside and incorporate the country’s strong oral culture through singing or other verbal lessons.
“After camp, the kids present the information to the village elders,” VanCourt says. “It’s really culturally sensitive.”
She chose to make the trip through the nonprofit WorldCamp because of the curriculum, based on HIV teachings from the Ugandan government. The organization was founded by education grad students backpacking through Africa – “people in the same position as me,” VanCourt says.
VanCourt plans to post videos and personal accounts of her experiences on her blog, A Worldwide Education. While she is overseas, the College of Education will host the blog on its Web site as well.
Back in the U.S.
Upon her return in August, VanCourt will have three weeks to reacclimate herself before the fall semester revs up. She’s starting Ph D work this fall, in addition to teaching several courses and helping Dr. Linda Bennett with elementary social studies perceptions research. Between it all, VanCourt will fit in her responsibilities as National Issues Representative for the Graduate Professional Council, a job she says aligns perfectly with her studies.
She knows it will be an adjustment, coming back to the U.S. after living among some of the world’s most impoverished people. She’s steeled herself for the almost inevitable anger at the extreme privilege gap, and yes, she’s heard all the Brangelina and Madonna adoption jokes.
“I’m sure I’m going to be tempted to bring a village or two home with me,” she says. “It’s hard to go home knowing some children don’t have even basic needs filled.”
But she’s working to change the situation through education. Her last few days in Malawi will be spent offering insights to WorldCamp organizers. The group adjusts its camp curriculum based on the experiences of participants: what worked well, what didn’t.
“As an education doctoral student, I might be able to provide some valuable ideas,” VanCourt says. “I think I’ll help them,” and at the same time, she hopes, figure out better what she wants to do after graduation.
For further details visit, COE Website.
