European Experience
You will be based in Lugano, Switzerland, located in Canton Ticino -- the only Italian speaking Canton in Switzerland. You will live at the Montarina Hostel, rated in a Washington Post article as one of the 8 top youth hostels in the world.
From September through October, you will take classes from Virginia Tech professors and have the weekends to explore the surrounding areas of Europe. Lugano is on a major rail line between Italy and the rest of Europe. You can reach many wonderful cities in a few hours. Past students have visited cities such as Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris, Barcelona, and Munich.
Africa Experience
You will spend the month of November participating in an experiential learning project in Rwanda.
Your project will depend on the needs of our non-profit partner organizations in Africa. Students will collaborate with local schools and non-profit organizations to develop, implement, and deliver curricula in areas such as:
-
ESL (English as a second language)
-
Cultural exchange discussions
-
Basic computer skills
-
US culture
-
Professional development
To learn more about the Africa experience, check out our Service Learning and Impact pages.
You will also go on a safari excursion, reflection retreat, and other local activities. You will then return to Lugano for about one week to complete your semester-long project and reflect on your experiences.