Duffy, executive director of the Albert Schweitzer Institute at Quinnipiac professor of political science, stressed the importance of climate change and community strength and resilience.

“The premise of the course was that Guatemala is on the front lines of climate change right now. That, and other factors having to do with the world economy, is driving massive dislocation and disruption in local communities,” explained Duffy. “So how are strong, resilient communities coping so that they can stay where they are and continue to thrive? How can they provide us with examples of strategies we can all adopt for building and sustaining resilient communities?”

Before heading to Guatemala, Duffy, Giblin, professor and director of anthropology, and several Quinnipiac students focused on food systems specifically in Guatemala, and the rich Indigenous culture the country embraces. They also studied community resilience, principles of reciprocity and mutual aid and examples of the way strong communities tackle solutions for providing sustainable sources of local food.

For Cristina Egas ‘27, the trip positively paved the pathway for her future.

Before Guatemala, Egas said she felt directionless and confused about where she wanted to take her degree to utilize her skills and knowledge.

“People often ask me what I plan to do with my degree, and before this trip I had no clear answer," said Egas. "After my learning experience in Guatemala, it became clear that I want to focus my future on advancing food sovereignty in the United States. This trip deepened my interest in studying plants, agricultural methods, and permaculture, with the goal of making a real difference in my local communities.”

When asked about what stood out most, Egas pointed out the mutual impact Quinnipiac students and Guatemalan locals had on each other.

“What stood out to me most during the trip was the strong sense of community in Guatemala and the impact that the Quinnipiac community had on theirs,” said Egas. “We were welcomed and cared for by Grupo K’amaya’l, whose slogan is tejemos comunidad, translated as “we weave community.” By the end of the trip, I had a deep understanding of what that truly meant. The culture in Guatemala is very different from that of the United States. From the very first days, we were greeted with warm smiles and waves from the San Lucas Tolimán community. Everyone we met was not only a community member but also a teacher in their own way — each sharing their unique role, wisdom and lessons about how permaculture principles sustain their livelihoods."

Traveling abroad has proven to be a life-changing experience for many, Duffy said. He added that he hopes the trip showed students how impactful their actions can be.

“I derive great hope from the excitement and the engagement that students bring to experiences like this,” said Duffy. “It sounds cliché, but I get tremendous satisfaction from the knowledge that our students go out into the world as curious, caring, creative members of community — and that they will shape and sustain the communities we all live in going forward.”