Course in Bolivia studies film

Though helping to build an orphanage and studying film may seem unrelated, together they are… Though helping to build an orphanage and studying film may seem unrelated, together they are the foundation of a summer course in Bolivia titled Topics in Film: Introduction to Video. Sponsored by Pitt’s Amizade Global Service-Learning Center, the program aims to combine academic work with community service projects to help students develop cross-cultural awareness.

Participants will spend approximately two weeks working in small groups to learn about camerawork, interviewing and photography, in and around Cochabamba, Bolivia, a bustling city of 400,000 located in a valley in the Andes Mountains.

“Seeing is a way of knowing,” course instructor Jen Saffron said.

Saffron, whose main focus is social documentaries, has been involved in photography and filmmaking for 15 years.

“We can learn a lot about culture through immersion,” she said.

Participants will also continue work on “Hogar de Ninos,” an orphanage located near Cochabamba. With the help of past volunteers, it has come into existence as a complex that houses children who otherwise would have nowhere to go.

“This was my gift to the community,” said Pitt student Ashley Ruszkowski, who helped with the construction on last summer’s trip to Bolivia. “You know you’re helping someone, and they receive you very well.”

By blending these elements of community service and academics, Saffron hopes to create a life-changing educational experience.

“We’re using cameras as a tool for greater insight,” she said, adding that both the academic and volunteer components will allow students to immerse themselves into the culture of this underdeveloped nation.

Sophomore Jamie McConnell is among those interested in the trip.

“I’ve never traveled abroad and I think the idea of going to a Third World country is a great opportunity,” she said, pleased that this program would allow her to experience another culture, to volunteer and to learn about film, all at the same time.

The course will last from July 10 until July 30, including meetings in Pittsburgh scheduled for before and after the trip, and will give students six credits. The AGSLC, located in Room 920 of the William Pitt Union, is still taking applications on a rolling basis for the trip, which is expected to cost $2,600 to $2,800. Scholarships are available, and no prior knowledge of Spanish or filmmaking is required.

Jessica Friedrichs, program coordinator for the AGSLC, said these sorts of service-learning projects are largely unique to Pitt and that the course is beneficial to participants.

“We’re on the forefront,” she said. “And it’s not like your typical class. It’s really interactive.”

The AGSLC also offers numerous other summer trips throughout Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia that focus on issues such as travel writing, globalization and community health.

“Students should take it upon themselves to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways,” Saffron said, “and not just for themselves, but for others.”