Chile J-Term 2009
The MIIS Chile J-Term is the brainchild of professor Jan Black and leaders at Global Majority. The first Chile J-Term was January 3-24 of 2009 and served as a needs assessment to explore possibilities for future MIIS Chile J-Term projects. In Chile the MIIS team worked with the Center for Human Rights at the Universidad Central of Santiago, Chile. Judge Juan Guzman served as a wise liaison to the indigenous group the Mapuche, as the J-Term group learned the history of present day Mapuche issues.
The Chile J-Term team works directly with indigenous people groups. Partnerships with local institutions (non profits, universities, governments etc.) are formed to assist project implementation. It is important to remember that as a team, the students, professors, and alumni from MIIS do not serve as project “implementors” but as partners, working with indigenous groups to promote advocacy and agency.
Click here for a look at the 2009 Chile J-Term report.
Please enjoy the following clips of the documentary produced by student participants in the 2009 Chile J-Term:
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Chile J-Term 2010
Drawing upon the successes of the 2009 J-Term trip, a delegation of students travelled to Chile in January of 2010 to conduct further needs assessments of the Mapuche community.
Take a look at the experiences of past participants by reading a few selected blog postings available below:
La Victoria
February 1, 2010
- Bottle Cap Decorations in the Streets of La Victoria
J-term students were allowed to visit Santiago’s neighboring community of La Victoria, which has developed from what was originally a shanty-town to a flowering community covered in murals and street art. Students visited Canal 3, a local television station dedicated to providing a public community television channel that provides an alternative voice to the conventional Chilean media, largely controlled and operated by the State. Canal 3 is dedicated to providing opportunities for adolescents to learn about TV production and program development, enabling them to develop their creativity and artistic expression.
- Jan Black and Ana Maria in La Victoria
Students were also able to meet Jan Black’s Chilean Mamá, Ana Maria, at her house in La Victoria. Jan and Ana Maria met during Jan’s time in Chile as a peace corps volunteer. Students were able to visit with Ana Maria and her family and hear about their experiences establishing the community of La Victoria 50 years ago.
Santiago
February 2, 2010
Students were also able to visit Villa Grimaldi, a former place of transit for Desaparecidos and torture survivors. VIlla Grimaldi has been reclaimed by the community as a memorial “Park for Peace.” Visiting Villa Grimaldi was a somber yet educational experience, allowing students to imagine the level of fear inspired by the Chilean state during the dictatorship.
Chile J-Term 2016
Photos and videos of the upcoming J-Term Practicum will be posted upon return!
