The Education and Social Justice Project: International Summer Research Fellowships 2016

Abstract

This report reflects on the seventh year of the Education and Social Justice Project, which provided five Georgetown University students fellowships, allowing them to travel to Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Rwanda, and Slovenia to conduct in-depth examinations of innovative educational initiatives, with a focus on the work of Jesuit institutions.

Project fellows spent three weeks with institutions engaged in efforts to promote social justice through education.

Jonathan Thrall spent three weeks in Amman, Jordan, conducting research at the Jesuit Refugee Service’s higher education center, which serves hundreds of urban refugees as well as Jordanian citizens through its academic offerings and a strong commitment to fostering community. Mariam Diefallah conducted research in Kigali, Rwanda, on the ways of remembering and teaching the history of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. Hosted by Centre Christus of Remera, she interviewed survivors, Jesuit priests, teachers, activists, civil community members, academics, and lawyers. Sarah Jannarone spent her time conducting research at the Jesuit College Magis in Maribor, Slovenia, the first Jesuit residential college for university students in Slovenia, as a part of her investigation into the network of Jesuit residential colleges that are to be built throughout Central Europe. Carolyn Vilter conducted research in Mexico City and Tapachula, Mexico, working with the Mexico City campus of the Universidad Iberoamericana to understand how different stakeholders view and address the challenges associated with Central American migration through Mexico. Khaliyah Legette researched in Nairobi, Kenya, at Nyumbani Children’s Home, where she interviewed members of the Nyumbani Children’s Home community and partner organizations for her research on HIV/AIDS services to children and affected families.