Annual Beans and Rice dinner to send Selkirk students to Guatemala
By Castlegar Source
The Selkirk College Nursing Program’s annual Beans and Rice extravaganza returns to Castlegar in February. This delicious, traditional Guatemalan dinner starts at 6 p.m. on Feb. 7 and takes place at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Castlegar in support of third-year Selkirk College nursing students who will be participating in a practice experience to Guatemala in the spring.
Nine nursing students will travel to Guatemala in May 2014 for three weeks as part of an International Practice Experience. The students have been invited to share with and learn from five different grassroots organizations whose community work promoting health as a basic human right has brought about significant positive social change.
“This experience is one of the benefits that helps set the Selkirk College program apart,” says Mary Ann Morris, Selkirk College Nursing Instructor. “It provides students the opportunity to learn from and work closely with people at the grassroots level who are leaders in health promotion.”
Working in collaboration with longstanding partners, the students will be learning about the underlying causes of the widening social disparities in countries such as Canada and Guatemala, how these disparities influence the social determinants of health such as education, employment, inclusion, and decent housing, which in turn directly impacts our health. Students will also learn about ways to address these social barriers to health from people at the community level whose resilience, capacity, and vision for a more just and equitable world has enabled them to actively address the formidable challenges to health that they face.
This event is a major fundraising effort to send the group south this coming spring. Along with the delicious dinner, there will also be a silent auction, live music, and an inspiring presentation from last year’s student group about their experiences. Abundant community support has been the foundation in making this international practice experience possible, and the program is most grateful to local citizens, businesses and organizations.
“Together we can bring about health for all” says Morris. “We look forward to seeing the community turn out for this wonderful event.”
Cost is $10 at the door. Children are welcome.
For more information, email beansandricedinner@gmail.com.
