The Context: Societies and Cultures in Development and Re-Development
In world societies of the 21st Century, countries and cultures, both ancient and modern, have to respond to expectations of “development”.  What that means can be radically different with various local societies, economies, and cultures.
Sometimes global expectations pressure local societies and economies, but sometimes global care and concern also reach in to support local struggles. Such was the case following the December  2004 Tsunami, which devastated fishing villages along the coastal regions of the Indian Ocean, including Tamil-Nadu, south of Chennai (Madras). Among the hardest hit were those from fishing villages. Many islands were washed out, and many were left dead or homeless. Such communities lost everything, from houses, to boats and nets. Shelters and emergency relief were provided, but the effects of the event will be felt for a long time.

• What is global “development” all about?
• How do people in communities respond?
• What happens when disasters strike?  
• How do local and international communities interact and respond?
• How do communities develop and re-develop?
• How might these things be seen in a faith-dimension?

These will be the questions to be addressed in a special two-week intercultural event to be held in southern India over two weeks (first week in Chennai and the second in Madurai) immediately following Christmas (December 27, 2005 to January 10, 2006). Program participants can be students of any current college or university academic program, or individuals who are interested in project-relief in India.  A celebration of the western New Year will occur in Chennai. There will be opportunities for prayer and worship for those who so choose.

The Program
Participants will fly to Chennai (Madras), where they will begin their study at Madras Christian College (MCC). After briefing, participants will travel to Kokilamedu where there were 128 families in that village affected by Tsunami. MCC has been working with villagers in replacing boats, nets, and services, as well as counseling and planning for the renovation of the community. Since this is also a special area for Religious Art and Architecture, these sites will also be visited and lectures presented on these subjects.
For the second week, participants will journey by train (an 8 hour cultural experience in itself!) to Madurai.  Lady Doak College will host this part of the trip. Madurai is more than 2500 years old and has a rich cultural heritage, history and diversity. The second largest city in Tamil Nadu, with numerous temples and shrines, portrays on the one hand, a highly traditional and culture bound people, and on the other, people being influenced by industrialization, modernization, scientific advancements and western culture.  This society and culture will be studied, its growth, advancements, socio-economic and political status, ethnic groups and life styles.  Participants will visit some of the villages and hamlets, witness their living conditions, and experience the rural life.

Program Design

• The program will have some theoretical input blended with field visits   and exposure trips.
• Experiential learning with interaction of faculty, students, experts   and persons from the communities.
• Involvement in social action and developmental programs.
• Exposure to rural life, Indian art, architecture, festivals and industry   through field visits. 
• There will be a Facilitator on the program who will give group support   and enable theological reflection.

Costs
The cost is $ 1,400 (USD), plus airfare. Participants will be responsible for personal expenses, books and airfare. Board, room, and transportation for field trips  are  included in the program cost. CUAC/IPSL will assist with travel  and Visa arrangements.

Academic Credit
Academic credit is normally arranged by a  student’s home college, to use the trip as an experience for study and reflection. Participants who have made such arrangements can meet with the overseas project leader to reflect on, explore, examine, and analyze the issues of the larger society and culture.  Other participants may help to form a Reflection Group.
Generally, participants should keep a journal and write a study of the experience.  This could also be a major paper, tailored to the participant’s interests.

Application & Payment
Application should be made as soon as possible, but no later than November 7th, 2005 (deadline has been extended from Nov 1 to Nov 7). Our address: CUAC, 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017-4594, USA.   Email: office@cuac.org.
Payment must be received by December 1st, 2005 in US currency, by international money order, or US Bank cheque.
Interested participants can print out an application from the CUAC website (click here) and send completed application to the New York office. 

Questions?
Should you have further questions, please visit our website, http://www.cuac.org/ or contact us at the abovementioned address. Our email address: office@cuac.org, phone  (+1)-212-716-6148, fax:   (+1)-212-986-5039.

Host Colleges

Madras Christian College has a residential campus outside of Chennai with a student population of some 2600, mostly male. Participants will stay at the International Guest House of the college, which is situated in the midst of a densely wooded area near the athletic fields. Food is specially prepared for the program in the Guest House. Initially, meals will be bland. After a week or so Indian dishes will be introduced. After a fortnight every meal will have more Indian and fewer western dishes.

Lady Doak College has a residential campus with about 700 female students accommodated in 9 residential halls with common areas. The program participants are free to stay in the students’ hostel (if they agree to abide by the rules existing here) or stay in the international guestrooms, having free access for interaction with the resident students. They are welcome to eat in the staff/student cafeteria. Guestrooms (double bed), with a kitchenette are also available within the college campus, which will accommodate a group of 15 – 20 participants. Single rooms can be provided, if required. Internet and computer facilities are also available on campus free of charge for exchange students.  The campus offers a quite green and cool environment, right in the middle of a busy crowded city.  The 18-acre area is ideal for a morning/evening stroll and bird watching. For more details on Lady Doak College, visit the website www.ladydoak.org.

The Communion, CUAC, and IPSL
The Anglican Communion is a worldwide family of churches which holds many diverse cultures and peoples together in a common Christian faith. To be an Anglican is to live in a global faith community.
The Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion (CUAC) is a world wide association of over 120 institutions of higher education that were founded by and retain ties to a branch of the Anglican Communion. With institutions on five continents, CUAC was founded for the exchange of ideas, for the development of programs among member institutions, and for our mutual support that we might better serve our students, our societies, and the world. Our website is www.cuac.org.
The International Partnership for Service-Learning (IPSL) is the international organization that links academic study and volunteer service. IPSL offers programs in thirteen nations, where students study at an accredited university and spend 15-20 hours per week volunteering in a community service agency. Over 4000 students from over 300 colleges around the world have participated in these programs, most receiving academic credit transferable to their home universities. Please visit http://www.ipsl.orgfor more information.