"Professor Arntson's team building exercises and classes about group dynamics were invaluable. They gave our team the same vocabulary and tools to mediate conflicts and make decisions while abroad and helped us understand each other's motivations."
- Catherine Wu
"I will always treasure my home-stay experience. I became very close with my siblings and loved having a large family. I learned that wherever you are, a family is a family and life is lived day to day."
- Ellen Abrams
"My home-stay was one of the best aspects of my summer. I could not wait to get home after work. My sisters taught me so much about Ugandan culture as well as life in general. We have grown up on different sides of the world but we may as well as lived next door."
- Chelsea Christman
"I learned how compassionate people can be who have just met you and the wonderful hospitality and family culture that exists in India."
- Asha Toulmin
"Our NGO let us work independently, but took co-ownership of our project, which was comforting as we were creating a proposal for them and we required input and feedback to know that our work had a purpose."
- Elizabeth Montgomery
"Being at our NGO was the single best part of the trip. I loved the community, and I loved the people there. It is an amazing NGO that does amazing things. The challenges we faced taught us to overcome obstacles."
- Alex Grubman
"The FSD site team was incredible. I've never worked with such capable, caring, fun people. They made me feel so at home and safe and also really supported us with our NGO."
- Asha Toulmin
"The FSD site team was fantastic. They helped us with everything we needed from managing tough NGO relationships to making sure our project plans were really attempting to achieve sustainable development."
- Claire Olszewski
"I could not have imagined a better set of teammates. They were all extremely committed and brought all they knew to the table."
- Chelsea Christman
"I am very impressed by the commitment and intelligence of the fellow students in GESI. I definitely learned much from them."
- XinKai Cheng
"The diversity of our group made us effective -- while others preferred to work on logistical, behind-the-scenes stuff; some were outspoken, others were more contemplative; some were better planners, some were better at actuating ideas on paper."
- Abby Hannifan
"To succeed in this program you have to be willing to set aside your expectations. This applies both to the outcomes of your project, as well as the expectations of what daily life will consist of."
- Elizabeth Montgomery
"This program gave new meaning to hands on learning. The background at the institute on development was great, and a week later you were on site attempting to implement what you had learned, and in the process learning far more than you could imagine."
- Rachel Suffrin
"It is unique that GESI students do not have a predetermined project before arriving in country. Although this can lead to certain challenges, I was grateful for this approach."
- Ellen Abrams
"The most unique thing was the amount of exposure we got to the community. I felt like I was a part of it and not just observing it."
- Bryan Stenson
"This experience was absolutely applicable to my personal, professional, academic goals, especially when it comes to approaching development with a realistic perception of how it works on the ground."
- Elizabeth Montgomery
"The experience has given me a new perspective on everything from washing the dishes to how to address world hunger... I will be returning to the lessons I learned on this trip decades from now."
- Alexis Suskin-Sperry
"GESI has helped me mature as a team member and a prospective development worker."
- C.A.

Travel, Health, & Safety

Travel

Transportation
Students are responsible for booking their own transportation to and from Chicago. Upon arrival in Chicago, GESI students will stay at a hostel for the duration of their predeparture coursework. Students will then take a group flight, arranged by GESI, to and from their host country. Upon arrival abroad, they will be greeted at the airport by the Foundation for Sustainable Development site team.

Once in-country, transportation options vary. Students will be clustered in home-stays that are near the students’ partner organizations or the community where the NGO works to ensure that students live near each other. Students will either take a short walk to their NGO or use public transportation. The FSD site team, as well as students’ host families, will assist them in navigating the area during the first few days of work.

Visas and Passports
The FSD pre-departure guides contain recommendations regarding visas, however, US citizens can find more information about obtaining passports and visas at http://travel.state.gov

Health

Students should first consult a travel medical clinic, the Center for Disease Control and the US State Department for the latest health requirements and advice. The FSD pre-departure guides are a resource for information on necessary vaccinations, medications, and on-the-ground medical care.

If you need prescription medication, bring an adequate supply for your entire trip. Also bring a copy of the prescription that includes the reason for taking the medication, its generic name, and dosage.

Proof of immunization may be required at multiple GESI sites. In such cases, you must carry an official record of immunization and present it upon entry into the country. Check the resources below for the most updated information on what vaccinations are necessary for your country.

Additional Health Resources

Travel Health Online (includes information on travel health providers)

MD Travel Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

World Health Organization

International Society of Travel Medicine

U.S. Department of State

Health Insurance Requirement
Health insurance is required for all students studying abroad on Northwestern University-affiliated programs, including GESI. Students must obtain HTH health insurance coverage for the entire period of time they are studying and traveling abroad, regardless of any other coverage they might have from their parents or their home institution (including Northwestern). Students must also submit evidence of that coverage to GESI with their pre-departure forms. To enroll, visit http://www.northwestern.edu/risk/abroad.htm#Enrollment.

Safety

GESI has implemented exhaustive safety measures approved by Northwestern University and in collaboration with FSD designed to address any health or safety issues that may arise.

Be assured that all sites have undergone a vigorous approval process by Northwestern University, GESI, and our on-the-ground partner, FSD.

For more information, please visit FSD’s Safety and Security page.

International SOS Requirement

All students on Northwestern University-affiliated programs, including GESI, must register with International SOS prior to studying abroad. This free service provides students with access to an array of health, safety and other vitally important travel information and email alerts.

To register:

1. Using Firefox or Internet Explorer (some features do not work with Safari), go to http://www.internationalsos.com/

2. Log on to the Members’ Website (left hand side of the homepage) by entering Northwestern’s group account number (11BCAS000003)

3. Click on “Print Card” at the bottom of the page; be sure to carry the SOS wallet card with you at all times

4. After printing the page, return to the International SOS homepage

5. Click on “Personal Travel Record” (in fourth paragraph)

6. Register by clicking on “New User? Register Here”

7. After registering, you’ll receive a message stating that your Personal Travel Locator has been created. You can log into this Personal Travel Locator at any time to add travel itineraries and update your profile.

Communication
GESI encourages students and parents to discuss how, and how often, they will communicate prior to the start of the program. All GESI participants will receive a cell phone upon arriving in-country. These phones can be called from the US, at families’ cost, or can be loaded with money to call the US, putting the cost burden on the student. Alumni recommend making an appointment to call home or to receive a call. Emails are also effective means of communication if students will have internet access.