Participants on a service trip to Guatemala had opportunities to build leadership skills through community service projects like building stoves, engage academically with the community through activities with Mayan women and children, and gain an understanding of social justice concepts. The student worked to become a better listener and lead translator between English and Spanish. This experience transformed the student's experience at their university by connecting them with others they now consider family, and reinforced their desire to advocate for women's rights and empower minorities, seeing themselves pursuing a career in social work or education.

1. Summary/Abstract
Participants of BVS Guatemala were
given the opportunity to:
build leadership skills through community
service, integrate academic experience
with community engagement, and gain an
understanding of concepts of social
justice (and the roots
of systematic oppression).
Our two main projects during this service
trip were building stoves, and engaging in
various community building activities with
a group of Mayan women (and their
children).
We built a total of 9 stoves, and
participated in corn shucking contests,
spontaneous face painting parties, and
sat in on humbling dialogues and
testimonials.
Projects/Duties & Responsibilities Impact / Results
My goals/objectives included:
-Becoming a better listener.
-Stepping up to be a lead translator.
(ENG to SPAN and vise versa)
-Remembering that I was placed in a
different country to learn, more than
“serve”.
Goals & Objectives
This experiential learning opportunity has
transformed my UMB experience
because I now have a group of people on
campus that I consider family. Not only
can I reach out to them for advice, I can
look to them for support in any of my
future endeavors.
Reflection / Next Steps
This trip would not have been possible
without the following:
- All those responsible for funding the
Beacon’s Student Success Fellowship
- The Office of Student Leadership and
Community Engagement
- Our host family and our partner
organization in Guatemala
- Friends and family who donated
- Our trip leader, Cassandra Gath
Thank You!!!
Indigenous Women's Empowerment in Guatemala
Experiential Learning Course, Beacon Voyages for Service
May 21 - June 1, 2016
Amber-Nicole Rodriguez, College of Liberal Arts, B.A. in
Women’s and Gender Studies, May 2018
This experience reinforced my want to
advocate for women’s rights and
empower the youth,(esp. minorities). I
do not have a set career path yet, but I
now see myself going into social work,
or even education!