Academic Program: Maymester in Russia 2017 (Vanderbilt U.)

Deadline for Applications: January 31, 2017

Vanderbilt University’s Russian Department is offering a Maymester cultural immersion program in Russia for May-June 2017(RUSSIAN 2210: Russia Today: Political, Socio-economic, and Cultural Change).

The program includes community service, lectures on topics being explored by participants (politics, economics, sociology, culture, history, art, etc.), Russian language lessons, interaction with Russian university students, excursions to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and provincial towns, home stays, and opportunities for reflection.

More information about the program can be found at https://webapp.mis.vanderbilt.edu/studioabroad/index.cfm?FuseAction=Abroad.ViewLink&Link_ID=090DE255-DE61-8FCF-EB6A1A0811743D32 .

Some of the possible volunteering opportunities include:

+ Vladimir Handicapped Children’s Association “Light” (founded by a small group of parents who disagreed with the Russian educational system’s position that mentally and physically handicapped children should neither be seen nor heard, and certainly should not be educated),
+ Vladimir Regional Veteran’s Home
+ Vladimir Youth Health and Education Center (they provide educational, counseling, legal, health and other services)
+ Russian Orthodox Church – assist with restoration work at a local church,
+ Vladimir-Suzdal Museum Complex – clean up and restoration work