Program Dates: Monday, June 7th – Friday, July 30th, 2010

The Regional Office of Harvard’s David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS), together with the Universidad del Pacífico (UP) in Lima, Peru, run the summer program Spanish & Community Service (SCS) for Harvard College students interested in improving their Spanish language skills while doing community service in a Latin American context.

This initiative gives Harvard College students an intensive linguistic, cultural, and social experience through intensive Spanish classes and the participation in a community service setting. Students participating in this program will receive a one half-course transfer credit from the local university. This program is specially designed for students interested in anthropology, history, culture, social studies, the arts, and politics. 

The DRCLAS has developed a close relationship with Universidad del Pacífico in Lima, which has been ranked as one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in Peru, and among the leading institutions of its kind in Latin America.

This program consists of two main components: Spanish Instruction on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Community Service on Mondays and Wednesdays. Students participating in this program will take intensive Spanish classes at the UP and will receive a one half course credit at Harvard. Students will also work as volunteers in a local community service or social organization. They will have the opportunity to choose, among various options, to volunteer at an organization that matches their career plans, language ability, interests, and/or academic concentration. The program begins with an intensive orientation week and all Fridays will be devoted to Peruvian cultural activities and field trips, organized by the DRCLAS Student Coordinator based in Lima.
All students live with a Peruvian host family.

2010 Application Deadline: Friday, February 12th

Harvard Funding Sources for college students for international experiences.

If you are looking for financial support for your international activities, the David Rockefeller International Experience Grants (DRIEG) is an excellent opportunity, particularly if you have not recieved Harvard funding support for an international activity. DRIEG funds are managed by Harvard´s OIP and is a completely separate application process from the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Stuides (DRCLAS) application.

For students with high financial need, DRCLAS may be able to subsidize the costs of the DRCLAS program.  All students requesting financial aid from the DRCLAS need to submit the completed Student Consent to the Release of Information form which can be found at the end of each program´s application form.

For additional information, please contact us.

>> Application Form
>> Program Costs
>> Eligibility
>> Housing
>> Why Peru?
>> Visa
>> SCS 2010 Calendar
>> SCS Participants from Previous Years