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 University & College Partnerships
The Peacework Village Network directly matches the goals of community leaders and organizations with the resources and expertise of students and faculty from institutions of higher education. We believe that academic and technical resources, volunteer service, and local community leadership are the components of effective development and lasting social change. The breadth of resources, knowledge, capital, and talent inherent within a university are applied within the village to address a spectrum of development needs.
The Village Network focuses on the partnership of ONE Community with ONE sponsoring Institution, collaborating across disciplines. Students and faculty from partnering institutions use their resources and expertise in each of their specific disciplines to work with community leaders and grassroots organizations familiar with local needs and resources. This novel approach creates more effective and sustainable projects and builds applicable cross-disciplinary educational opportunities and collaboration within the university setting. Ostensibly, these efforts then serve as a catalyst for regional development and cooperation.
The product of the village and university partnership is profound. University participants have the opportunity to apply their studies, research, and skills in real-life settings where their passions make a significant difference in the world. Developing communities benefit from the enormous resources of a university. Village citizens become teachers of students and colleagues to faculty in the world's most respected institutions. And, remarkably, social change in the village instantly becomes a catalyst for regional development.
The Peacework Village Network embodies proven and effective means for university social responsibility in high-impact settings.
Peacework also offers opportunities for groups that are not yet prepared to take on a long-term program. Peacework 30 projects are a great way to introduce your group to international service work while making a direct contribution to one of our partner communities worldwide.
Projects
Click on the project title for complete information.
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University of Arkansas in Belize
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A group of stellar faculty and students from the University of Arkansas are serving as architects of the inaugural Peacework Village initiative in the Stann Creek District of Belize. In February 2006, representatives of the University visited Belize to become more familiar with the social, economic, and cultural environment of the country. Afterward, Peacework entered into a partnership with the community of Dangriga and the University of Arkansas for education, service, and economic development involving seven colleges and departments of the University. Each year, students participate in an interdisciplinary course on Belize culture and history lead by faculty within the university. Students also engage in a practicum in their specific fields of study where they have the opportunity to consult with community partners to prepare and develop the projects that will take place each summer in Dangriga and throughout the year. Leadership for the program comes from the Sam M. Walton College of Business; the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food, and Life Sciences; the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; the College of Education and Health Professions; the Honors College; the Office of Study Abroad; the School of Social Work; and the College of Engineering.
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The Virginia Tech's Honor's College
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Following a class presentation by Peacework executive director, Steve Darr, one motivated student from the Honor's College at Virginia Tech embarked on a Village Network Initiative with Peacework. Emily Barry has since become the student leader for the initiative and created a credit-bearing class which is the hub of the planning and development team for the upcoming programs in El Porvenir, Honduras. With the support of the college faculty and a host of student leaders, the program will launch its first series of projects in August 2009. Peacework experts in literacy, farming, engineering, and development are working closely with the team of students to ensure that programs are meeting the stated objectives of our Honduran partners. Peacework Director, Heather Burke, has a unique insight to the needs and goals of our Honduran partners and is leading this initiative as it progresses towards a Peacework Village Network. Heather is working to bridge areas of expertise by bringing in collaborators from other universities such as Duke University in health and Colorado State in literacy and arts.
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