Last summer 11 students from Penn State traveled to Sri Lanka on a cultural immersion and service-learning program.

For the summer of 2015, the Malini Foundation and the student-run Malini Club at Penn State is organizing two enriching international summer experiences in Sri Lanka.  With a focus on global engagement and social entrepreneurship, two programs will be offered:
1) Exploring Leadership Through Community Development- 4 weeks
2) Rethinking Gender, Globalization and Poverty- 2 weeks

EXPLORING LEADERSHIP THROUGH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Through this innovative service internship program students lead a series of structured, short-term local capacity building projects supporting community organizations that are a part of the Malini Grassroots Collaborative Network.

Students are prepped for their work through a community development curriculum that exposes them to subject matter, experts, methodologies and processes focused on leadership and social entrepreneurship. Students build leadership skills through civic engagement as they get exposed to diverse careers, particularly in the international field. Most excitingly, the program is infused with exposure to Sri Lankan culture, history, traditions, economics and geography.

RETHINKING GENDER, GLOBALIZATION & POVERTY
This cultural immersion and service learning experience in Sri Lanka incorporates an innovative curriculum focused on the issues impacting girls and women globally. The program explores the complex nature of poverty, girls’ education, women’s empowerment and volunteerism using post-colonial theory, cultural relativism, and a social entrepreneurial perspective.

While in Sri Lanka, students participate in a multi-disciplinary study tour that includes a short-term service project, interaction with NGOs and grassroots thought leaders, visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites, nature and cultural excursions.

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