Erika Marte
Hamilton College
Project
The Faces and Functions of Educational Volunteerism in the 21st Century
Thailand, India, Tanzania, Brazil, Spain
Given my own experiences as a beneficiary of many educationally focused volunteer programs, my goal is to explore the faces and functions of 21st century volunteerism within the domain of education. In particular, I want to understand how the social impact of various externally organized volunteer initiatives compares to that of those that spring up within local communities. I plan to focus on the relationship between those who volunteer and those who are the objects of their efforts. Juxtaposing international volunteer organizations and grassroots organizations run by members of the local community, I am interested in a comprehensive understanding of educational service in a cultural context.