DALLAS
Bonton Farms/Agape Clinic
see info below
Course Details
Dates
July 12 to July 19, 2020
8 Days
Arrival City
Dallas, TX
Tuition: $2000
* Discount and important info here
Though Dallas is one of the wealthiest cities in America, the city leads the nation in inequity. The rise of segregation and racism in the mid-20th century led to minority communities in South Dallas receiving limited resources. This inequality is evident today as businesses in North Dallas boom while the poverty rate in South Dallas increases. In addition to this inequity, many communities in South Dallas are food deserts, lacking access to nutritious foods which correlates to high rates of life-threatening diseases in these communities. Many of these communities also lack access to necessary primary medical care. Bonton Farms and Agape Clinic, the two non-profits that SStS partners with, are working tirelessly to address these issues by providing both immediate care and long-term, systematic solutions.
While in Dallas, the SStS group will be working with Bonton Farms, a vibrant and sustainable farm in what was previously a food desert in South Dallas. Students will volunteer at Bonton’s local South Dallas farm location, and their extension farm, working alongside the farm employees there to maintain the garden and farm. Students will spend time at the Bonton Farms Market and with Bonton staff members in order to fully grasp the impact of the Farm on the surrounding community. Additionally, students will be spending time supporting the work of Agape Clinic, whose mission is to provide quality health care services to underserved people in Dallas. After a brief training, students will be assisting in running Agape’s weekly evening clinic for patients in need. Time with both partners will allow students to grasp both Dallas’s rich history and the inequalities the city faces today.
Learn More
The Dallas course involves working with two different non-profits. To learn more about each, please visit their websites.
Course Elements
The course elements are based on a rating from 1 to 5, 1 being the least rigorous, 5 being the most rigorous.
The group will volunteer with two non-profit organizations, Bonton Farms and Agape Clinic, to learn about how they support improved quality of life to marginalized communities in Dallas.
Prior to their travels, students complete a series of online activities (30 minutes each). While traveling, they also read engaging articles, participate in cultural experiences, and create presentations in small groups.
While in Dallas, the group will spend time exploring various cultural sites on foot. However, these activities only require short walks. The group will be driving to the project sites daily.
The group will be staying at a ranch that is only a 15 minute drive from Bonton and Agape.
Throughout their time in Dallas, the group will explore various neighborhoods in the city. The project work and various cultural experiences only require short drives.
Although the group will stay near the heart of South Dallas, they do not stay in the homes of individual families.
The group will spend their time exploring different neighborhoods in the Dallas metropolitan area, while staying at a more remote location on the ranch.
A Glimpse into the Dallas Course
Itinerary
Dallas
1
the 5 Lenses Curriculum
Prior to departure, students are guided by their course instructors through a series of interactive, online lessons. Organized by SStS’s Five Lenses Curriculum, these activities (30 minutes per week) allow students to directly engage with other members of
the group.
2
partnering with ngos
The majority of the days at each site are spent engaged in meaningful service work with our NGO (non-governmental organization) partner. Days not dedicated to project work are spent immersed in intriguing cultural activities.
3
post travel advocacy
During the next school year, students educate others by advocating for our NGO partner through public presentations to the community at large and/or younger, school-based audiences.
Important Details
Cost Information
Students who attend a school that is a member of SStS’s Global Schools Coalition receive a tuition discount. To see the list of schools in the coalition, click HERE.
Tuition (students from members of the Global Schools Coalition): $1900
Tuition (students not from members of the Global Schools Coalition): $2000
SStS is in search of curious, compassionate, globally-minded students. Thus, we will do all that we can financially to support students whose circumstances preclude paying the full cost. If you would like to be considered for financial assistance, please indicate so on the application. Financial assistance resources are limited. Scholarships tend to be less than 50% of tuition.
Please note, tuition does not include airfare.
Tuition costs are all inclusive with the exception of personal expenditures (e.g. souvenirs).
Talbot Travel Agency provides travel services for SStS, working personally with us to find the least expensive fares.
Travel Expectations
Please note that we expect all participants to arrive in Dallas within a defined window of time to be picked up by their course instructors. Additionally, traveling as a group inevitably includes “the unexpected.” SStS will adjust the itinerary accordingly, making the best of uncontrollable situations. Due to the unknown variables in travel, participants are asked not to make travel plans or to enroll in programs that start immediately after their return. SStS is not responsible for expenses incurred due to missed flights if the group is delayed in their return.