K-State's International Service Teams

Learn, serve and lead abroad

International Service Teams (IST) is a unique opportunity for K-State students to exercise leadership and serve abroad. Teams travel to communities around the world to engage in community work. Projects have focused on health, education, environmental and sustainability concerns and youth development.  These student-led experiences are a powerful way to practice inclusive leadership, become more self-aware and be better prepared to engage with a diverse and changing world.

Experience

As a team member, students live in an international community and work with its members every day. Students apply academic skills to community problems and are required to adapt to constantly changing plans, people and activities. Working with a team of peers and a community partner, students co-create service efforts. Through these experiences, students enhance problem-solving skills, gain leadership experience and develop an appreciation for other cultures and perspectives.

Ocean View, South Africa

In Ocean View, South Africa, students work with an organization called Volunteer Mzansi. Each team member is placed at a different project based on their personal interest and experience in Ocean View and lives with a host family in the community. Service ranges from assisting in classrooms to working alongside health professionals and community centers.

Recommended individuals: independent, self-motivated, business students, and from any and all majors.

Kartong, The Gambia

Panajachel, Guatemala

In Panajachel, Guatemala, students work with an organization called Tejiendo Futuros. Tejiendo Futuros leads in the development of conscious change agents by focusing on co-creating resilient, sustainable communities with a focus on peace. Students could be working with children, family services, or the local sustainable agricultural system. Basic conversational Spanish is highly encouraged for participants.

Recommended individuals: Prospective English/ESL teachers, education students, agricultural students, social work students, independent students

Cabarete, Dominican Republic

Students work with the DREAM Project during their 5-week educational empowerment summer camp as a volunteer in an English classroom. In the 3-5 weeks prior to the summer camp, students work with DREAM on various projects such as administrative work, teaching additional classes, community development projects, and much more. Students live in a dorm-like setting with other international volunteers. Participants must be enrolled in or have completed Spanish 3 by the time they travel or possess a similar degree of language proficiency.

Recommended individuals: prospective English/ESL teachers, independent students

Are you interested in becoming a host site? Contact our Student Coordinator team at intlteam@ksu.edu.

Timeline

Fall semester (pre-service): Host communities are identified by Student Coordinators. Student team members are selected in a competitive process.

Spring semester (pre-service): Team members complete an 16-week, three-credit-hour course to prepare for their summer abroad.

Summer: Teams travel to host sites and live in the community for 8-10 weeks.

Fall semester (post-service): Students complete structured reflection to debrief their experience.