AQPC

* This article was written with the invaluable assistance of Julie ROBERGE, International Baccalaureate Coordinator at Cégep André-Laurendeau.

Author : Daniel STEWART, Englist teacher and responsible for CAS - Cégep André-Laurendeau

Since 2001, more than 150 students in the International Bachelor (IB) program in Natural Science at Cégep André-Laurendeau have been travelling to Ecuador to work on a project and to develop their openness to the world. This article retraces the history of this adventure that encompasses school projects and the CAS facet of the IB, which deals with activities relating to Creativity, Action and Services and includes volunteering and community service. The author proposes a few recent examples of projects based on students’ competencies in biology, physics and teaching English as a second language. From preparing for the trip to the critical review after their return, the author describes the participants’ journey and shares some of their reflections. He also tackles the subject of unexpected events, obstacles, culture shock, insisting specifically on the importance of lasting links between project partners and shedding light on the positive impact that such experiences have on teachers, students and the host communities.