Dent to Build Community in Ireland

2017 Jun 5

Alanna Dent is one of 13 students from Susquehanna University who are joining the youth of Northern Ireland this summer in efforts to build foundations for peace in an area traumatized by a violent past. Called Peace, Youth and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland, the experience is part of the university's Global Opportunities (GO) program.

Participating students travel to Belfast, Dublin and the Coast of Northern Ireland. As part of their study tour, community development organizations partner with them to perform service work in cross-community settings. The students meet with local politicians, ex-members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Ulster Defense Association (UDA), and peace activists to learn more about the region's legacy.

As a cross-cultural requirement, study away is an integral part of a Susquehanna education. All students spend at least two weeks off campus, immersed in a culture different from their own, in the U.S. or abroad. Students reflect upon their experiences when they return, guided by faculty members and coursework that promotes discovery and personal growth. Susquehanna students can choose from study-away programs, ranging from a few weeks to a full semester, in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, Europe, Puerto Rico and Hawaii, among other options.