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Salvadoran vice president visits SSW
Social workers often hear of the world's problems from their
immigrant clients, many of whom are refugees of war and natural disasters
or whose wages in America support relatives back in their native land.
During an eight-day trip to El Salvador last May, students, alumni, and
faculty from BU's School of Social Work saw firsthand the poverty that
many of their clients have tried to escape. They also observed hopeful
signs of change in the Central American country, including some innovative
social programs.
On July 19, Salvadoran Vice President Carlos Quintanilla Schmidt repaid
the visit when he met with the study-tour participants at SSW. He described
his country's strategies for economic progress following the 13-year-long
civil war that ended in 1992, Hurricane Mitch in 1998, and two devastating
earthquakes in early 2001. The BU stop was part of the vice president's
first official visit to the Boston area, where thousands of Salvadoran
emigrants live.
SSW has sponsored student trips to Europe for several years, particularly
Denmark, but this was the first time it offered a Central American itinerary.
"The purpose of our travel program is to understand social welfare
systems and social justice issues in other parts of the world, and to
put things in a global perspective," says Kay Jones, an SSW clinical
associate professor and director of the Refugee and Immigrant Training
Program, who led the Salvadoran tour. "This was a very powerful,
very educational trip." - H.G.
At a School of Social Work reception in Conant Lounge in July, Salvadoran Vice President Carlos Quintanilla Schmidt and his wife, Alejandra de Quintanilla, greet SSW Clinical Associate Professor Kay Jones (left), and SSW Dean Wilma Peebles-Wilkins. Photo by Kalman Zabarsky
30
August 2002
Boston University
Office of University Relations