Selkirk College
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Select senior baccalaureate Nursing students have been traveling to Guatemala annually since 2005. They travel to Guatemala for 3 weeks as part of their practicum and commitment to learn more about the common roots of health care challenges in both the north and the south. The practicum addresses learning in the three major dimensions of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental. The nursing students saw examples of how environmental health and food production are tied to economic development in Guatemala. They saw examples of a 400 hectare reforestation project, and a locally operated Tilapia fish farm. They also learn about a foreign mining operation and its effects on the health and environment of nearby communities. Students take part in many community health projects, such as providing education to young students about dental and hand hygiene using skits and stories. The nursing students bring extensive knowledge when they travel to Guatemala, but they focus on listening, learning, and collaborating.