{"id":2788,"date":"2020-01-14T05:34:23","date_gmt":"2020-01-14T10:34:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/world\/?p=2788"},"modified":"2019-12-20T17:36:27","modified_gmt":"2019-12-20T22:36:27","slug":"stetson-students-participate-in-internship-with-air-guatemala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/world\/stetson-students-participate-in-internship-with-air-guatemala\/","title":{"rendered":"Stetson Students Participate in Internship with AIR Guatemala"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

 By Camila Morales Hernandez<\/strong>, ’20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(l-r) Students Sydney Arrington, Peter Greubel, and Matinicus C’Senger pose with AIR Guatemala founder and President (and Stetson Professor Emeritus, ), Dr. Anne Hallum in front of AIR’s Training Center<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Over the summer, the Stetson students, Sydney Arrington, a Public Health major\/Spanish minor, Peter Gruebel, also a Public Health major; and Matinicus C\u2019Senger, double major in Economics and Philosophy and an Environmental Sustainability Fellow at Stetson, did a summer internship with AIR (Alliance for International Reforestation, Inc) Guatemala. During the experience, the students were able to work closely with local farmers to learn the practice of Regenerative Farming. The students also spoke Spanish during the entire time of the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT IS AIR GUATEMALA?<\/strong><\/p>

AIR is a non-profit organization improving human and environmental health in Guatemala.\u00a0 With operations in Atlanta, Georgia and central Guatemala, AIR has trained over 4,000 farm families and planted almost 6 million native trees in Guatemala.\u00a0 For over 25 years, AIR has implemented a community-based, five-year approach with great results and success.\u00a0 AIR is a winner of the 2017 Equator Prize from the UN Environment Programme because of this successful model.\u00a0 All salaried employees are local professionals, so ninety-two percent of funds and donations go straight to the field to implement projects and programs:\u00a0 Rural school programs; tree nurseries; farmer training; and efficient, custom stoves.\u00a0 AIR was founded in 1992 at Stetson University after Dr. Anne Hallum, Stetson University political professor, visited Guatemala for the first time and observed first hand the rural hunger and malnutrition, the barren mountainsides and mudslides, and the strength of the Maya people. <\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GOALS, PROCESS AND ACADEMIC PURSUITS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each year, one to three Stetson students are selected to participate in the AIR Guatemala internship program. All of their program expenses are covered by a generous endowment by Drs. David and Leighan Rinker. The main goal of the internship is for the student to provide tangible benefits to the local residents.  <\/em>Likewise, the experience is designed to align with the academic pursuits of the students.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning goals for the student interns include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n