SIT Study Abroad Argentina: Social Movements and Human Rights

A truly amazing program. I learned so much more than I could ever get from a classroom. I made amazing lifelong friendships with students from all across the country. I got to experience life like a local through my homestay, which made me feel more confident walking around the city and using my Spanish. Within the classes we got to travel throughout the beautiful country of Argentina and learn from Indigenous communities, activist groups, professors, lawyers, etc. I would highly recommend this program.

SIT Social Movements and Human Rights is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in a hands-on experiential program, just like they describe on the website! While the course load can be demanding, a well organized study schedule and asking questions when confused makes it very easy to manage. The most memorable moments for me were when visiting the various organizations and being warmly welcomed by the Mapuche communities, which were all truly life changing. When approaching this program, it is very important that you come in with an open mind and embrace every learning opportunity.

The experience of field-based learning and cultural immersion has left a remarkable impact on me that I will undoubtedly never forget. As a Black and queer student, I have developed so much as a person, as a student, a creative, a friend, a community member, etc. I have learned more about myself through exposure to things both familiar and unfamiliar. I am more confident sure of who I am because of this program. Additionally I've developed knowledge of human rights histories and current issues and fostered the skills to articulate effective action items accordingly. I can attribute my growth experience to the phenomenal support of the program faculty and the connection to marginalized communities within a eurocentric country.

My favorite part of my experience was living with my host family and meeting with community organizations and indigenous communities around the country. I feel like I not only learned about Argentina but was immersed in it. I did not know I would have so much support from our program leaders, and I am so grateful for everything they planned and did for us. The Spanish immersion is a big part of why I chose to go to Argentina, and I was not disappointed. My vocabulary, confidence in speaking, and ability to understand others in the language improved drastically, largely because of my interactions with my host family.

This program in Argentina contributed deeply to my academic and personal growth. Courses included the topics of Human Rights, Argentine History, Social Movements, Research Methods and Ethics, and the Spanish Language. Throughout each of these courses I gained immense knowledge about Argentina in the topics of Human Rights and Social Movements and improved my Spanish language skills. I learned so much about the fight for autonomy for indigenous peoples, the workers industry, the history of Argentina, along with current conservation efforts. I made amazing connections that I hope to carry with me throughout my life and met some of my best friends through this program. My independent study project also led me to connect with the history and the people on a deeper level. Through the support of my director's and advisor, I was able to connect with people who were experts in their field and are activists still working toward change. Overall I am so grateful for this program and all it offered me. I am forever changed by what I gained.

I looked at a lot of study abroad programs for different countries and with different companies, but I am genuinely so glad I landed on this one. This program gave a fantastic overview of how the country's history influences it's current political and cultural climate. The staff were incredibly helpful and caring. They helped me navigate health issues that came up while I was abroad, and I never felt alone. The homestays and the location made it an amazing immersive experience. The first half of the program focuses on classroom instruction, excursions in CABA, and week long trips to the North and the South of the country to help you understand the history of Argentina. Then the second half is dedicated to either an internship with a group or an independent study on a social movement or topic relating to human rights. This made for a nice balance between classroom and hands-on learning. We each had the time and resources to explore a topic that we were interested in for about a month as well.

Passionate, committed students looking for an immersive and meaningful study abroad experience look no further! I can confidently say that this experience changed my life. From living in a homestay to traveling the entire country on field trips, from learning from leading professors in social movements, law, and history to completing an incredible internship, I can't think of a better way to deeply engage with this wonderful country. Plus, the local staff is so supportive – I truly felt at home here.

SO glad that I chose this program. I could not have asked for a better group of students and coordinators to experience Argentina with. Not only did I grow to love Buenos Aires through my amazing homestay experience, but I also got to travel, most notably, to northern Patagonia and the northwest (Jujuy and Salta), where we visited human rights organizations + indigenous communities, learning about Argentina through a variety of contexts/perspectives. This program prides itself on its rigorous academic component, but it's not all studying! A huge part of my experience was exploring the numerous amazing neighborhoods of BA with friends. If you want to learn so much while also living it up in the best city in the world, choose this program!