| N SI Cd e September 2008

The Douglas College Newsletter | New Westminster Campus, David Lam Campus, Surrey Training Centre

China Field School takes learning abroad

the trip was a “shot in the arm” that renewed his passion for his field.

Three Douglas College
instructors are declaring their
first-ever China Field School
(CFS) a success.

“Learning abroad gives
students an appreciation of
other parts of the world. It
combines theory and practice
and enriches not only their
academic experience but also
their lives,” says Geography
instructor and Associate

of Arts (Intercultural and

International Studies)

Coordinator Mike McPhee.

McPhee, Mandarin
instructor Ralph Lake

and Communications
instructor Heather Tobe
made the inaugural trip with
22 students from various
programs. For many students,
it was their first trip outside
of Canada. They were based
at the East China Normal
University in Shanghai for

See ie iz - Pie eae
a7

 

   

eS

Mandarin instructor Ralph Lake pumps up with student Jamie Wright during the China Field School. Lake says

five weeks in May and June
and spent time in Shanghai,
Suzhou, Hangzhou and
Beijing, in addition to classes
at Douglas before and after
the trip.

“From an academic point
of view alone, this was an
exciting and interesting
experience for everyone,
students and instructors

alike,” says McPhee.

Uganda Fund gives girls a chance

Three more girls will continue
high school this year in
Masaka, Uganda, thanks to
the fundraising and donations
of Douglas College employees
and students.

The Douglas Uganda
Endowment Fund, now in
its third year, was set up to
allow girls to attend high
school in Masaka — a chance
many of them would never
get otherwise, says program
organizer and Community
Social Service Worker
(CSSW) instructor John Fox.

In Uganda, elementary school
is free, but most secondary
schools are privately operated,
which means many families
cant afford to send their
children to school.

“Ifa family can afford to
send a child, it will first and
foremost be a boy,” explains
Fox.

This leaves young girls with
few options once they finish
elementary school.

“At the age of 13 or 14, they'll
be working at home, raising
their brothers and sisters.
Or, they might get pregnant
and start the cycle of having
children,” says Fox.

“They have no chance of a
profession, no training.”

Fox still remembers a girl
he visited who was in the
hospital because of serious
complications after giving
birth. She wasn’t going to
school.

“What would have happened
if shed stayed in school?
That's our hope, for the girls
to stay in school,” he says.

The majority of the money
raised by the Fund goes
towards room and board,
uniforms and school supplies

for the girls. But at just $350
Canadian per student per
year, the cost is minimal,
considering the difference

it makes in these girls’ lives,
says Fox.

“There is nothing, absolutely
nothing, more sustainable
than education.”

Some Douglas faculty and
staff are already donating to
the fund through paycheque
deductions and other means.
Fox hopes to encourage
more to do the same, so that
they can continue to grow
the scholarship program.

“We're already thinking,

in four years, will the
endowment fund be in the
position to support one or
more of these students to
attend Douglas College?” he
says.

“No wall is too high.”

     

The students had the
opportunity to explore
Chinese culture and language
hands-on, practicing their
skills with Chinese university
students. They learned about
the history, neighbourhoods
and architecture of Shanghai,
how schools and model
communities operate and
how to conduct their day-to-
day business in Chinese.

Tobe says there were
opportunities for Douglas and
local students to learn from
one another in the classroom
and during “English Corner,”
when they would meet in
front of the Mao statue on
campus Thursday and Sunday

evenings.

“Tt was an opportunity for
Chinese national students to
practice their English and for
our international students

to learn more about Chinese
culture,” says Tobe.

“The CFS was a shot in the
arm for me as a Chinese
instructor. It gave me renewed
interest in my subject and

the opportunity to witness
the ‘new China’ with 22
enthusiastic students and two
great colleagues. I hope this is

John Fox, far right, with Khana Nalygemwa, Stella Wannyana and Mary

IN

Douglas College

just the beginning,” says Lake.

An unforgettable part of the
trip was the earthquake in
Sichuan Province. Though
the Douglas group was safely
located about 1,000 km away
from the area hardest hit by
the earthquake, they were
impacted by the response

to the disaster within and
outside of China.

“Exactly one week after

the quake, everyone in

the country stopped their
activities — in traffic,
classrooms, factories, shops,
etcetera — for three minutes
of silence. In addition, in
Shanghai, a huge memorial
vigil was held in People’s
Square which some of us
attended. It was something |
will always remember,” says

McPhee.

All of the instructors hope
the success of CFS will mean
more field study trips in the
years to come, whether in
China or elsewhere.

“Ideally, every student who

attends Douglas should have
the opportunity to broaden
their educational experience
through field studies,” says
McPhee.

   

Nakiyemba. The girls are headed to high school, thanks to donations by
Douglas employees and students to the Uganda Endowment Fund.

| How you can help

Social Service Worker website.

To find out how you can support the Uganda Endowment
Fund visit the African Field Studies section of the Community