Purdue service-learning students to spend Maymester in Ecuador

The landscape architecture, psychology, agriculture, and agricultural and biological engineering students will spend May 19 through June 9 helping residents of Tumbabiro, Ecuador, create a strategic plan for future development. The students will gather data for potential future projects, which could include improving landscaping around the town's central square, creating a new cemetery, establishing a study area or library for students in the community, and painting the town church. They also plan to set up a computer in the mayor's office.

Kim Wilson, associate professor of horticulture and landscape architecture, said students are eager to get to work.

"They will gain so much from that trip," Wilson said. "Not only will they get to apply the skills they've acquired in the classroom, but they also will see how their work can have a direct impact on others' quality of life."

Wilson will be joined by Pamala Morris, assistant dean of agriculture and associate professor of youth development and agricultural education, and Klein Ileleji, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering. The professors plan to have future classes work with the village for five to 10 more years.

David Witte, a senior landscape architecture major from Fort Wayne, Ind., will serve as the group's primary translator. He spent most of his youth in Venezuela where his parents were missionaries.

"We received many volunteer groups who wanted to help out with some of the work related to the church," Witte said. "My brothers and I were usually responsible for helping translate for these volunteer groups. When I heard of the trip to Ecuador, I was very interested because it is something I have enjoyed doing my whole life — traveling and helping others."

Witte said he likes the idea of Purdue establishing a partnership with Tumbabiro leaders.

"The mentality that we are not going there to 'fix' a problem or help those who can't help themselves was something that was important to me," he said. "We are participating in this trip because we want this to be a mutually beneficial experience. We hope to learn as much from them as they learn from us, and we want them to partake in the process so they can continue the work after we leave."

The trip will be financed through student fees, an International Programs grant and support from the departments of Youth Development and Agricultural Education, Landscape Architecture, and Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

More than 150 classes at Purdue feature service-learning projects, ranging from working with wolves at Wolf Park in Battleground, Ind., to classifying historical documents for the Tippecanoe County Historical Association. Recent projects included students from a variety of disciplines traveling to New Orleans and Biloxi, Miss., to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts during spring break.

Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu

Sources: Kim Wilson, (765) 494-1308, kwilson@purdue.edu

Pamela Morris, (765) 494-8293, pmorris@purdue.edu

Klein Ileleji, (765) 494-1198, ileleji@purdue.edu

David Witte, (765) 749-0632, dwitte@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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