SJU in Peru
Current Students
SJU in Peru
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SJU in Peru is an international service learning experience open to all University of Waterloo students. The program introduces students to the service learning philosophy at St. Jerome’s, themes of power, privilege, & solidarity, colonialism, gender inequalities, and the inequalities between the global north and south. Participants engage in personal development, team building, and reflection practices in advance of the two week immersive experience in Peru. Students learn from and work side-by-side with various partners in Lima, and a female-led Fair Trade coffee co-operative - Café Femenino - in Chiclayo.
The SJU in Peru Program involves:
- 2 Pre-departure retreats (May, August)
- Asynchronous online course, including readings and assignments (May-August)
- 10 day international experience (August)
- Reintegration retreat (September)
Applications are due the Monday after the February Reading Week.
Our Partners
The Café Femenino coffee program is one-of-a-kind ethical sourcing model committed to ending the cycle of poverty affecting women coffee farmers across the world. Café Femenino provides direct compensation to women farmers, along with the opportunity and resources to enact positive change in their communities and on their own terms. Co-founded in 2003 by Peruvian women farmers alongside Organic Products Trading Co., Café Femenino now spans the globe and continues to grow as more and more women join the Café Femenino movement.
Women coffee producers also have access to grants through the Café Femenino Foundation to fund community projects that address gender equality, food security, health and education initiatives.
St. Jerome’s partnership with Café Femenino was first established thanks to the folks at Planet Bean in Guelph. They continue to support our program through education about Fair Trade and co-operative economics. We are also honoured to serve their Café Femenino coffee in our Funken Café and residence cafeteria.
Student Eligibility & Program Cost
All University of Waterloo students from any faculty are encouraged to participate in the program. Students who wish to participate in SJU in Peru apply and go through an interview process. Successful applicants are expected to actively participate in all mandatory pre-departure and reintegration retreats and sessions, as well as the asynchronous online course.
Students are responsible for all of the costs associated with the SJU in Peru service learning trip (approximate trip cost $2,500). All accommodation and transportation in Peru are included in the trip cost. Additional costs to students include some meals in Peru, souvenirs and required immunizations.
Dates & Deadlines
- September 4, 2024: Applications open
- February 24, 2025: Applications close
- April 29-May 1, 2025: Mandatory in-person retreat
- May-August 2025: Online asynchronous course modules
- August 2025: Mandatory in-person pre-departure retreat and 10 day international experience
- September 2025: Reflection day
Application Form
Follow this link for the SJU in Peru application form.