Hampshire College

Program Availability: Fall & Spring Semesters

This program offers Hampshire students the opportunity to spend a semester traveling with the Mexico Solidarity Network studying critical international grassroots alliances in the struggle for democracy, sovereignty, and economic and political justice. The Mexico Solidarity Network is committed to developing these grassroots alliances on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, and organizing to promote dialogue and collective action for social change. Through MSN, students can participate in a unique study abroad experience that will connect you with other community activists struggling for change in Mexico.

Academic Program

Photo of offering to a fallen Zapatista on the Day of the Dead.  Photo taken by Vanessa Paulman, GEO staff, while visiting the MSN program in fall 2007.

Students can choose from two options:

Northern Program (Juarez-Chihuahua City-Mexico City-Chiapas program): February 3 – May 9, 2008: Earn 16 credits studying Mexican social movements in Chiapas, Mexico City, Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez. The program focuses on the theory and practice of Mexican social movements, with important lessons for activism in the US context. This hands-on course includes workshops with the Universidad de la Tierra, the Zapatista movement, families of femicide victims, maquiladora workers, El Barzon, and urban barrio organizations. The Spanish language component focuses on verbal communication skills.

Southern program (Chiapas-Tlaxcala-Mexico City program): January 27-May 2, 2008: Earn 16 credits studying Mexican social movements in Chiapas, Tlaxcala, and Ciudad Juarez. The program focuses on the theory and practice of Mexican social movements, with important lessons for activism in the US context. This hands-on course includes workshops with the Universidad de la Tierra, the Zapatista movement, the National Assembly of ex-Braceros, the National Urban-Campesino Council, and urban barrio organizations. The Spanish language component focuses on verbal communication skills.

Program Dates

Eligibility

This program is available to Hampshire Students only. All others can apply directly to MSN.

A Spanish class for Mexico Solidarity Network students in Toluca de Guadalupe.  Photo taken by Vanessa Paulman, GEO staff, while visiting the MSN program in fall 2007.

How to Apply

1. Hampshire Exchange Program Application
2. MSN Application, available in the GEO or at MSN's website

Area Specialist

• Australia
• Central America
• China
• Cuba
• England
• France
• Germany
• Mexico
• Puerto Rico
• Scotland
• South Africa
• ISEP: 38 More Countries!