Trip to Romania

As a requirement for our trip to Romania, we will be keeping a weekly blog for those at home to keep up with our progress.

To give a quick recap of what is going on, I applied to be part of a pilot class of grad students from Gonzaga University's Organizational Leadership program. We are going to be doing an Internship with the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees in Timisoara, Romania.

The Leadership and Accompaniment course in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was designed to meet the Jesuit, Catholic, and humanistic mission of Gonzaga University. By accompanying refugees while working with UNHCR, students will develop knowledge of traditions and cultures different from their own, contributing to a more holistic understanding of the human family and appreciation of and respect for different cultural traditions. Learning opportunities provided in the course will encourage students to develop self-knowledge, self-acceptance, restless curiosity, desire for truth, a mature concern for others, and a thirst for knowledge. Lastly, this course answers the call placed by Gonzaga President Thayne McCulloh (GQ, Winter 2010) in referencing the Jesuit decree advanced at the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus to meaningfully engage the world in a “…new context… marked by profound changes, acute conflict, and new possibilities”.

This course is designed to offer students an opportunity to earn three elective credits while studying and serving with UNHCR in Timisoara, Romania. Students will spend four weeks learning with faculty, students, UNHCR workers, NGO partners, as well as faculty and students from host country. The course will also include excursions to local universities, non-governmental organizations, historical sites and museums from the 1989 Revolution, and regional trips to Budapest HU and Sibiu RO.

Course Objectives
- Develop knowledge of and strategies for learning about the current refugee population in your own community
- Develop knowledge of and strategies for learning through ethnographic accompaniment and dialogue
- Develop knowledge of and strategies for rapid needs assessment as a methodical process for field study and investigation
- Develop knowledge of and strategies for applying ethnographic principles of observation, interviews, and accompaniment with UN staff and refugees to learn about refugee hardiness and resiliency
- Develop understanding and appreciation of host country from local civic leaders, students, and university faculty
- Develop knowledge and strategies for thinking creatively about the role of leadership and communication practices with humanitarian organizations and local refugee organizations