Each GESI value corresponds to a unique program element, forming the core of students’ experience.
1. Comprehensive preparation and education
GESI integrates experiential learning with an in-class curriculum which has been developed to equip students with tools to understand and effectively engage in international community development. See our academics page for syllabi and course information.
2. Immersion and experiential learning
GESI believes that living and working in developing communities is the foundation of students’ education in the field of international development. Each GESI participant therefore lives with a homestay family within his or her host community. Through this immersion experience, students gain credibility in the community, understanding of the strengths and limitations of development projects, and invaluable insight into another culture.
3. Impact-driven partnerships
Through our partners, Foundation for Sustainable Development, Social Entrepreneur Corps and ThinkImpact, GESI pairs groups of students with local organizations or community groups that have an emphasis on community-led solutions and are invested in developing a new generation of global change leaders. By developing relationships with their host communities, students learn the ins, outs, and challenges of working in multicultural environments.
4. Group work and a diversity of perspectives
GESI recognizes that every individual is instilled with experiences, knowledge, and values that can enrich a team. Our students come from various universities, academic programs, and ethnicities and work in groups of three to five, a structure that allows students to harness this diversity while enhancing their ability to collaborate and cooperate.
5. Sustainable asset-based development
In order to create real change, GESI students implement solutions that build upon the assets of developing communities so that successful projects can continue long after students return to the United States. Students’ worldviews are transformed as they learn to leverage the strengths–rather than list the weaknesses–of the communities in which they live and work.
6. Student-centered, multi-tiered support
An integrated network of Northwestern faculty, GESI staff, student instructors, and on-the-ground partner site teams will support and equip students before, during, and after their in-country experience. GESI is committed to challenging students personally, professionally, and academically while fostering an enduring community of students passionate about social change.
“The week-long Northwestern Pre-Departure Learning Summit was intense. Discussions, guest speakers and case studies written by past students gave us a full introduction to development work. We all came from diverse academic backgrounds and
the coursework put us all on the same page.”
– Divya Sooryakumar, Uganda
“The speakers are engaging and one learns how to work on a team and with other students with different personalities, interests and majors.”
– Ayanna Legros, Bolivia
“It was apparent that a week spent in Chicago was incredibly beneficial, as it allowed participants to become comfortable and familiar with one another. The leadership and team building exercises proved fruitful, as it taught them how to effectively communicate with one another. This could have easily been a barrier to their project work taking into consideration people’s unique working styles, but it never proved detrimental to their aims.”
– Udaipur site team
“I wanted to immerse myself in a culture completely, not just to work in it, but to become an active part of it. GESI sets its participants up with the necessary tools and skills, and then gives them complete freedom to observe, learn, fail, rework, and eventually succeed.”
– Rena Oppenheimer, India
“This program has made me more comfortable communicating with people and more curious about individual people’s lives.”
– Stone Shen, South Africa
“Living with a family greatly improved my ability to learn Spanish. It was also wonderful to be able to get advice and information from local people who I trusted.”
– Sidny Ginsberg, Bolivia
“My host family was incredibly engaging. We interacted with them all night every night. I got to help cook and try out some tasks on the farm. The family had so many different kinds of people–young and old, male and female, educated and uneducated, and some mentally disabled–that I got a wide range immersion of Ugandan society.”
– Kirk Vaclavik, Uganda
“GESI is not a program that teaches you how to help others. It is one that enables you to turn “others” into “us”. It is real living with real people, and immerses you into a culture that is as sophisticated and complex as your own.”
– Michelle Kim, Uganda
“Community partners played a central role in the functioning of our project. We had an extraordinary relationship of mutual respect and togetherness.”
– Shashank Sheth, South Africa
“It’s amazing how you can enter an organization as an obvious outsider, wide-eyed with culture shock, and leave the organization with heart-filled goodbyes, teary-eyed to leave a place that has become a second home.”
– Danielle Moehrke, Bolivia
“I was able to engage with students from different backgrounds. We all brought different viewpoints to the project, which was ultimately helpful in shaping our team’s dynamic.”
– Anish Butala, India
“I really enjoyed the variety of experiences and backgrounds on the trip. It really enriched my experience. Having a roommate from a different university was a great experience as well. We were able to have many conversations that I may not have
otherwise had with people from my school.”
-La Donna Smith, Uganda
“It was a very interesting to be placed in such an intensive group project. As a team we learned how to benefit from each others’ knowledge, and it was a very comprehensive way to learn new aspects of myself.”
– Ryan Lim, India
“GESI is not that average study abroad program. It’s the opportunity to work with a community to problem solve together. By designing a project that utilizes both individual and community assets to address a need, you’ll gain a new understanding
of grassroots development.”
– Abigail Weitman, India
“I believe that even if our bread-baking business does not succeed, the entrepreneurial spirit that led our community partners to want to be involved will still remain,
and ultimately, that is more important.”
– Stone Shen, South Africa
“GESI is a great way to learn about development. It is a first-hand experience with real people and real communities. You get to see the theory in action.
It is truly a great learning experience”
– Michael Scheufele
“The in-country support team did a great job checking up on us to see if we needed help but also giving space to work on our own. They were always there for us if we
needed it but wouldn’t step in unless we asked.”
– Anna Badalamenti, Nicaragua
“The site team was definitely very attentive and I felt comfortable
going to them for anything.”
– Rebecca Reeve, Uganda
“The on-the-ground staff was very helpful in all aspects of my trip. They consistently helped us with our project when necessary and they also provided us with the appropriate resources when needed.”
– Joshua Zieve, Uganda
