By Branden Matassa, ’22 staff writer

For an upcoming virtual learning service trip, students will have the opportunity to learn about Brazil’s public health in the time of COVID-19.

The trip is unique in that the 15 participating students will remain on campus. Despite the change to a completely virtual trip, Jen Liedtka, LVC’s service and volunteerism coordinator, remains optimistic about the opportunity.

“Since we are not able to travel for in-person service trips, we believe this is a wonderful alternative,” Liedtka said.

Topics of focus will include issues of public health in various Brazilian cities, health systems and social detriments of health specific to the Amazon and coronavirus responses on the national and local level. In addition to these topics, students will explore the role of identity, power and privilege in health settings in Brazil.

“We are thrilled to offer the chance to connect with a different community in a different country to learn about a topic so timely and relevant through the lens of residents and medical professionals there,” Liedtka said.

While there is clear confidence in the program, the constraints of a remote service trip are understood.

“We are certainly not claiming that this experience could replace an in-person trip to Brazil to explore health care systems,” Liedtka said. “Yet, given the reality of the limitations we still live within during the pandemic, we are thrilled to offer this opportunity to LVC students.”

It’s important to note that this won’t be the first time LVC has taken on a virtual service experience.

“Based on our virtual winter break service experience, which happened on a much smaller scale, we believe that significant learning and growth can happen during our May experience,” Liedtka said.

For any interested students, this program will fulfill one of the two immersive experiences required to graduate and the service trip requirement for earning the Gold Service Award.

The virtual service trip will take place May 23 to 27. Applications are found on Redbook and the deadline for applying is April 30.

As far as future plans for service trips, Liedtka is hopeful.

“We are hoping that our next in-person service trip could take place during spring break 2022, stay tuned,” Liedtka said.

For further questions, contact Liedtka at liedtka@lvc.edu.