Legacy of the ethnographic field school in Belize

Abstract

The Ethnographic Field School in Belize has been training American undergraduate students and Belizean interns in basic ethnographic research methods since 2013. During this time, in collaboration with university study abroad offices and Belizean governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations, the field school has conducted community-based ethnographic research on several community development issues (e.g., sugar cane farming, child labor, education, and health). Students gain skills in ethnographic methods as well as personal growth. The community within which we conduct our research benefits through our findings being shared with agencies and organizations that develop development policies and programs. The long-term legacy of the field school includes the development of student participants’ ability to adopt a culturally relativistic lens and skills to apply to future study and careers, as well as our partners using our findings for their community development projects.