API is committed to encouraging volunteerism and community involvement through our study abroad programs, and one of the ways we promote this ideal is through the API “Gives Back Project”. Organized by API staff in each location, the API Gives Back Project may consist of an ongoing volunteer opportunity or a one-day commitment.

API students in Salamanca, Spain, were recently featured in the local newspaper for their “Gives Back” project. A translation of the article follows, along with a scanned image of the original piece. Congratulations API Salamanca students!

Foreign students participate in a clean-up project of rural roads and trails.

A group of 19 foreign students, along with 2 group leaders, participated last Sunday in the communal work that was carried out in San Esteban de la Sierra, which consisted of cleaning up rural roads and trails. Despite the rain, these youngsters were not deterred, and with tools in hand, they removed weeds, thickets, and overgrowth found on the “Camino de la Viña el Río”.

These young foreign students are in Salamanca with the American program Academic Programs International, according to API Resident Directors Inma Borrego and María Fernández, who accompanied the group to San Esteban de la Sierra. The RDs commented that the central API office is in Austin, Texas, and that the students participating in the clean-up come from universities from all parts of the U.S. to study Spanish at the University of Salamanca through the International Courses section.

The excursion to San Esteban de la Sierra was understood by the group to be “a day of work to give back to the local community for the welcome they received”.

“We always want to include some element of volunteer work, although it’s true that throughout the semester students also volunteer with other initiatives. In English we call this the ‘API Gives Back’ project and we do it every semester if we find something that works for the group.”

After the day of work in San Esteban de la Tierra, which was cut short because of rain that changed the organization’s plans, students returned to Salamanca very satisfied. They received a warm welcome from all the members of the town association that worked alongside them, and had the chance to share experiences over lunch, which was moved to the home of one of the committee members of the “Asociación de San Esteban de la Tierra” since it was no longer possible to hold it outside.

EL ADELANTO JUEVES 07-04-2011 - pag 27