Creighton University

The Institute for Latin American Concern began at Regis College, Toronto in 1972. Originally, the program was intended for North American priests, seminarians, members of religious communities and theology students to experience and understand the people and problems of a developing nation. Its success each year has depended not only on the dedication of many hardworking individuals, but on the willingness to evolve, to respond to new challenges and openly search for the best ways to let Creighton's students grow in an awareness of God's presence among the materially poor and of each individual's link with them.

The original experience involved fewer people and a less heterogeneous group than today's ILAC. From 1972 to 1976, most participants were Jesuit seminarians, as well as various priests and religious women, all seeking an experience of "conscientization" or heightened sensitivity to world reality and the individual's responsibility to this reality. Several Cuban Jesuits recognized the opportunity to introduce North Americans to a developing nation in a way that would help them reflect on their role as members of a global community, and view the connection between North American affluence and developing national poverty. The initial program then focused on the immersion into daily Dominican life. The first participants had no special skills whatsoever and most had little Spanish background. They spent time together learning Spanish and reflecting on the experience with their adopted families. Most lived with materially poor urban families or families who lived not far outside Santiago.

Fr. Ernesto Travieso, SJ, moved to Creighton University in 1975 when he became Chaplain to the medical school, and ILAC moved with him. The first and most natural evolution of ILAC was to take advantage of the resources of the University. At first, the experience was opened to undergraduates who sought the same kind of experience as former participants. These students raised their airfare and spent two months in the summer learning Spanish and living with families in the city and its neighboring campos.

This evolution, however, was not simple and clear. The very character of ILAC had to change in order to accommodate the new level of involvement. Instead of being merely an opportunity to challenge North American awareness of a developing nation, ILAC was now attempting to address directly developing nation problems. The danger of over-involvement was all too obvious; Creighton had no means to substantially affect the quality of health in the Dominican Republic. Lest the program seek to make a dry spot in an ocean, the focus settled on the opportunity to bring, with dignity and personal concern, a modicum of health care to the campesinos--for whom few others had shown such concern. As the 1978 participants expressed it: "Our health care teams certainly relieved much immediate pain and suffering, but it would be foolish to think we have changed the general health conditions of the country. That was not our goal." Instead, "We have done the best with what we have and have developed ourselves as persons." The deeper awareness of self and others--conscientization--grew out of the frustrations and limitations of trying to deliver health care on a personal, intimate level, using the terms of campesinos themselves rather than those of the North American system. The intent was to enhance the quality of life for as many people as possible through basic care. It took little to improve the lives of many, for at least a short while.

To provide adequate and responsible health care and student supervision, the program accepted health care professionals, especially instructors, from Creighton's faculties. The professionals took on a distinct identity in the program since they only participated in the Dominican Republic for part of the time and only to fulfill an explicit support role. Nevertheless, the encounter with the people and the clinics gave these professionals much of the experience shared by the students. Former student participants often returned as team coordinators or professionals to share again in the experience.

By 1982, concrete, long-term plans were being developed for both a permanent health care facility in the Dominican Republic, and a year-round health care center in addition to the summer program. "Health Promoters" or "Cooperadores de Salud" were selected by their own communities to receive six weeks of ongoing health care training at the ILAC Center, and returned to serve as resource people in their home communities. These Health Promoters also worked with team members in presenting educational topics based on the input of community members.

ILAC has grown dramatically over the past years and remains strong. The reality of poverty, even one's own personal poverty and limitation, is not lost on most participants, and the experience seems to have retained much of the character it possessed from its beginning. The health care involvement of ILAC has served as a positive means to further involvement with the people of the campos. Providing health care allows for moments of intense interaction with Dominicans and North Americans that forge friendships and challenge awareness. Many more people have had the opportunity to participate in ILAC because of its health care aspect. A real service has been provided and a relationship between the Creighton community and the Dominican people has been rich -- giving way to a real sense of commitment.

It remains clear that ILAC, having committed itself to health care in the Dominican Republic, must continue finding ways to develop its care in a compassionate, responsible way, enhancing the dignity and freedom of the people of the Dominican Republic. The latest change in the ILAC program responds to this need by dividing the program and emphasizing a variety of enterprises under the umbrella of Centro de Educacion para la Salud Integral (CESI). The presence of a large facility devoted to ILAC in the Dominican Republic allows for many new program possibilities. It also allows the freedom to restructure the existing program to fit ILAC's dual purpose: to provide students and health professionals the opportunity for conscientization and provide health care education and service to people in remote areas of the Dominican Republic.

The ILAC Center in the Dominican Republic (Centro de Educacion para la Salud Integral), provides space for a sophisticated program of campesino education, the "Health Promoters" Program, and the opportunity for a year-round program of students (i.e., Semester Abroad) and professionals (i.e., VIDAS, Volunteers for Action and Service) to travel periodically to permanent clinic sites and maintain long-term health care. The Center also provides training in cooking and nutrition, agriculture and small business opportunities, an undergraduate campus for students from Creighton University, and many other programs.

In January 1992, the College of Arts and Sciences and ILAC began a Semester Abroad Program, allowing students an experience of immersion through living and studying at the Center during the Spring semester. The College of Business Administration also began a Semester Abroad Program in the Fall 1994 semester. The Semester Abroad Program in the Dominican Republic was transitioned to the International Programs Office at Creighton University during the Fall of 2001. The ILAC office and International Programs work together to further enhance the students' academic experience while maintaining the ILAC mission. In 2005, the Semester Abroad Program evolved into the new Encuentro Dominicano Program, open to students from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, and Nursing.

ILAC, in conjunction with the Department of Occupational Therapy Program, began providing students and professionals the opportunity to address therapy needs in the city of Santiago in the summer of 1993. In 1994, two VIDAS teams of physicians began staffing ILAC's permanent campo clinics for one year of volunteer service. In January, 1996, ILAC provided the first Service Retreat in the Dominican Republic for Creighton faculty and staff. In April, 1996, over 15 Physical Therapy students and professionals began offering PT services to Santiago sites with little or no access to this type of care. The Law School at Creighton University sponsors a retreat each Spring which began as a pilot program in 2002.

At any one time, projects such as health care, community development, semester abroad programs, and high school and other university service-learning programs may be active at the Center. The original conscientization experience may be promoted through retreats or extended stays, much like the original ILAC Program. ILAC will continue to strive to structure programs within the context of a caring encounter challenging the awareness and concern of all involved.