Program Dates
(subject to change)
December 28 - January 17
Application Deadline: October 10
About the Program
As a part of its Sustainable Development Education program, the three-week January Term course in microcredit is offered by Living Routes and the Earth Rights Eco-Village (EREV) Institute, in partnership with the Global Ecovillage Network of Senegal (GENSEN) and the Senegal Ecovillage Microfinance (SEM) Fund. Each course engages students in defining and enhancing concepts of the role of microfinance in sustainable development in West Africa, where ancient heritage and community values are still intact to a degree rarely found elsewhere. While enjoying magnificent scenery, American and Senegalese students will engage villagers in discussing ecovillage concepts and the ways in which microfinance can be used to benefit sustainable local development. The specific content of each course is determined based on needs of our key partner, the SEM Fund. Thus, curriculum content rotates based on needs, assuring that student research and projects can be applied to real development needs.
Following successful completion of J-term Program, all registered students receive 4 continuing education credits from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Most American universities permit students already enrolled in their own programs to transfer these credits to their existing transcripts.
To learn more and apply through Living Routes, click here.
Course Outline
The course begins at the EREV Institute in Dakar, the capital city of Senegal. Here, American students participate in an orientation to Senegal’s culture, history and environment, get to know their Senegalese partners, participate in presentations in microcredit and sustainable development and become proficient in simple research methods. Then, in small teams, we visit ecovillages for a week of research, interspersed with cultural events and nature tours. We conduct research based on the needs of SEM. Back in Dakar, students share their learning experiences, complete assignments and analyse their results, providing suggestions to SEM that will help future loan-holders.
"I dare say that I learned a lot about life in general, that’s why I say that program should be encouraged, promoted and improved for the future."
- Senegalese student from the J-term in microfinance, 2010