For students looking for a little volunteer work abroad, the best-kept secret on campus may be south of the border. The Mexico sociology program is available to BYU students looking for a good price and humanitarian emphasis.

"For anyone reluctant to go on a study abroad, this program is for them," said Doug Wendt, a senior majoring in sociology. "It's the shortest and cheapest."

After Wendt signed up for the Mexico sociology program, he bought a lot of camping gear for his trip, which he later realized was too much.

By the end of his stay in Mexico, he gave all his equipment away.

"It wasn't like 'I'm sharing with the poor Mexicans because they could use this stuff,'" Wendt said. "I can live without this because I saw how they were so happy."

Wendt said he hopes to go again this year. He said the experience is service-based learning. Students work alongside local organizations promoting sustainable development in rural areas.

Students use humanitarian projects as a way to learn about poverty and indigenous cultures during Spring Term.

Applications are due Feb. 15. Any student can apply at the Kennedy Center in room 280.

This is the 10th year that professors Tim Heaton and Gary Bryner are taking students on the project.

Students will spend the beginning of Spring Term in Provo taking sociology 345 and political science 444. Students will then spend three weeks in Mexico working with the Taromoro indigenous people. The last week of the term is spent in Provo writing the research paper.

The study focuses on poverty and development, and the group will spend time in Cuauhtémoc, a northern city in Mexico four hours from El Paso. Students will also camp in a village in Copper Canyon.

They pick a topic to study such as economic development, education, community or international development, and after their stay, they write a research paper about their findings and solutions.

One solution students discovered was making adobe stoves in houses.

Heather Gilliland, a junior majoring in sociology, said she remembers making adobe stoves last spring. These stoves replace the open fires that many people use inside their homes. The stove pipes the smoke out of their houses, which helps prevent lung damage.

"It was a good reminder to always find opportunities to serve people," said the resident from Glendale, Ariz. "It helped me be aware that others need my help."

The group can take up to 20 people, and currently, eight students are signed up. The trip costs $1,900-2,100, all expenses included. Scholarships are also available.

"You're getting class credit for a life experience," said Jeff Swindle, a sophomore majoring in sociology.

Heaton said he's seen three basic responses from people who visit poor countries. Some people are just glad to get back home.

"I believe this reaction is unenlightened," he said. "Fortunately, our students rarely have this reaction."

The second response is increased gratitude for the opportunities and advantages we have in the United States. He said this response shows some learning from the experience.

The third response is a realization that the material things we often envy or work for are not what make us happy, Heaton said.

"Rather giving and sharing are much more meaningful than material gain," he said. "We hope our students have the third type of reaction."



Copyright Brigham Young University 2 Feb 2009