Announcing: LearnServe 2008

LearnServe is a summer program that brings students and teachers to developing countries to explore important global issues.

"This trip showed me how much a simple human presence can make a difference and how much responsibility we have as global citizens to use our advantages for the betterment of others."

—Isabel, LSP 2007

Why would you and your school...

• Choose to be part of a LearnServe team,
• Travel to China, Paraguay, or Zambia this summer, and
• Return home and share what you have done with others?

Because you can. This isn't just a trip—this is a life-changing experience.

Find out why others did and how you can too. For more information:

• Read last year's team blogs from China, Paraguay, and Zambia
• Learn more about the LearnServe program
• Contact us to ask a question or to get involved
• Registration ends January 15, but places are limited, so reserve a place for your school now! (scholarships available)

LearnServe Trips

LearnServe Teams

This summer three groups of teachers and students will travel to developing nations to better understand the issues they face. While in-country, the teams will blog their progress with photos and reports from the field. Tune in to discover along with them!

Zambia and Paraguay are wrapping up their trips now, and China will depart on Saturday, July 14th.

Announcing LearnServe Zambia '07 (formerly LearnServe Ethiopia '07)

© 2006 Federico Dollfus

The safety of LearnServe trip participants has always been CIE's first consideration. While we do not expect the current conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia to escalate, this year's LearnServe trip to Ethiopia will instead travel to Zambia. We are excited by the opportunity Zambia presents, and our partner humanitarian organization, Share Our Strength supports our decision and will continue to work with us as we plan our work in Zambia. We look forward to sending trips to Ethiopia in future years.

Zambia is a remarkable country. Among the poorest world nations, over 70% of Zambians live in poverty. A per capita annual income of $395 places the country among the world's poorest nations. A landlocked country in southern Africa, it shares one of the wonders of the world, Victoria Falls, with Zimbabwe.

CIE has selected Zambia because of its welcoming people, its stability, and because the problems it faces are issues that confront all world citizens. One in five children in Zambia are orphaned, largely due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We are fortunate to join with the Lubuto Library Project, which assists orphans and street children in Zambia. LearnServe participants will work on this important literacy and education project bringing hope to some of the most disenfranchised in all of Africa.

We will continue to update our site as other themes and details emerge. The first LearnServe meeting for schools traveling to Africa and Zambia this summer will be at WIS (3100 Macomb) on Sunday, February 11 from 3-6 PM.

LearnServe China and Registration

Hugh Riddleberger, CIE's director, and Kate Meenan-Waugh, WIS teacher and leader of the LearnServe China (LSC) trip, returned from a very successful planning trip to China. 2007 marks the debut of LSC.

The registration period for the LearnServe program has begun. If you previously indicated your interest, you should have received instructions for how to complete the process. If you have not received these instructions or if you are interested in participating (few if any spaces remain), please email learnserve@cie-wis.org.

New: LearnServe China 2007!

Building on the success of the LearnServe program, CIE will send a group to China in July of 2007 for 14 to 18 days, thanks in part to a generous grant from PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP.

The focus of LSC 2007 will be on the rapid development of China and its environmental implications. If you are interested in sending a school team or learning more about our plans, please contact us!

In addition to China, CIE will again send groups to Paraguay and Ethiopia in the summer of 2007. For more information, we recommend reading about last year's trips.