Bachelor in Anthropology
Before the program, I understood ideas such as sustainable development, cultural exchange, and community empowerment mainly from an academic perspective. In Guatemala, however, I was able to see how these ideas were practiced in real communities. More importantly, I began to question my previous assumptions about what it means to “help” a community. I realized that there is an important difference between providing what we believe people need and understanding what people themselves actually want or need. People receiving assistance are not passive recipients. They have their own circumstances, priorities, and judgment. I would rather contribute modestly to an existing local goal than create an ambitious project based mainly on my own assumptions. That humility may be the most valuable lesson of the entire traineeship.
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