While GOSESO is immediately and directly benefiting local communities in western Tanzania, we are also using the school as a model to affect national and international strategies of conservation and poverty mitigation.
Our Study-Abroad Program fosters cross-cultural understanding and transnational dialogue about environmental and community relations. Visiting students bring valuable cultural experiences to our education programs as well as broaden their own cultural horizons. Tuition remitted by study-abroad students offsets some of the administrative costs of the project and contributes to the financial viability of GOSESO. There is a symbiotic relationship between our tourism and study-abroad programs. Students involved in the study-abroad program are likely to encourage associates overseas to visit GOSESO and returning students may act as our ambassadors to potential visitors in their home countries.
Our proximity to Gombe Stream National Park will continue to provide a unique opportunity for students and guests to visit this renowned wildlife research center. Visiting students receive credits through our education programs while broadening their own cultural horizons. Additionally, GOSESO’s proximity to Lake Tanganyika and classical African villages provides unparalleled opportunities for the cultural, geography and ecosystem studies offered through our "School Without Walls"program.
 | Andrew Braithwaite, an undergraduate Quinney Scholar from Utah State University in the United States, spent the 2007 summer working for GOSESO in Tanzania. The following was his account:
"Working on GOSESO [in Tanzania], was without a doubt one of the greatest experiences of my life… I was constantly amazed at how all the stars seemed to align in favor of building GOSESO… The plot of land acquired is absolutely perfect. The support of the local community is overwhelming… The supply of gifted students ready to seize the opportunity that will be provided by the school is massive." Click here to explore more how to be involved with this program. |