Global Service Corps

History

Global Service Corps [ [http://www.globalservicecorps.org] ] was founded in 1993 by Rick Lathrop after gaining a PhD in Human and Organization Development at The Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara, California. At Fielding, Rick became interested in global studies, particularly in the area of sustainable development, and discovered that there were few educational programs available for adults to gain first-hand experience in the field of international development and community service.

In 1993, GSC developed a working relationship with Global Routes, an organization that had been providing international community service summer programs for high school and college students for about ten years. Global Service Corps began to establish volunteer service programs for adults with an emphasis on village-based sustainable development. The first project trip took place in December of 1993 in Costa Rica. The GSC program expanded to Kenya in 1994, In 1995, a project was established in Thailand with an emphasis on teaching English and community health. In 2001, it moved its East Africa program to Tanzania with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture and HIV/AIDS prevention education.

In August of 1995 GSC became a project of the Earth Island Insitute. GSC benefits from the support of the Earth Island network services which include assistance in project administration, accounting, promotion, fund development and computer services. The relationship established with Earth Island Institute acknowledges the inherent connection between sustainable development and environmental concerns.

Projects and Destinations

Today GSC runs [service-learning programs [http://www.globalservicecorps.org/site/learning-programs/] to Thailand and Tanzania. The projects in [Thailand] [http://www.globalservicecorps.org/site/thailand-learning-programs/] include English Teaching in schools or Buddhist Wat's, HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention, International Health, Orphanage Care and a Buddhist Immersion program.In [Tanzania] [http://www.globalservicecorps.org/site/tanzania-learning-programs/] it offers programs in International Health, HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention and Sustainable Agriculture. In Tanzania it also offers a fellowship program for professionals and graduate students in the fields of International Development or Public Health looking to gain valuable international experience.

GSC’s Programs are offered year-round and range from two weeks to six months. Volunteers live with local Thai or Tanzanian families which allows them to be truly integared with the local community during their volunteer experience.

External Links

* [Global Service Corps main site] [http://www.globalservicecorps.org/site/]
* [GSC Service Learning Programs] [http://www.globalservicecorps.org/site/learning-programs/]

References