Spelman Intercultural Engagement Program in Portugal
Spelman College, the global leader in the education of women of African descent, and an institution dedicated to excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, has partnered with CIEE, to provide students with an opportunity to participate in two-week intensive programs in various countries around the world.
During a recent visit to Lisbon, Portugal, 30 Spelman students and two faculty members engaged in a discussion on equality and freedom during a live broadcast from the Portuguese Parliament.
During the May 23 talk, members of Portugal’s Commission on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms, & Guaranties’ Sub-commission for Equality and Non-discrimination discussed their work, and then took questions from Spelman students.
“We all noticed that while their work focused heavily on women, the LGBTQQ community, the blind and the handicapped, race and racism were topics which were left out, and even not addressed when several Spelman students asked questions related to the Afro-Portuguese community,” said Soraya Mekerta, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of World Languages and Literature, who introduced the Spelman group.
Students said they gained insight into Portugal’s political system and issues of racial and gender inequality.
“Our meeting at the Parliament showed me how tirelessly we must fight not only for gender equality but also for equality on the basis of race,” said Anitras White, C’2019, a dual-degree engineering and biology major. Spelman, in partnership with CIEE (the Council on International Educational Exchange), offers the two-week intercultural exchange program to Portugal each year in May. International studies lecturer Alix Pierre, Ph.D., also joined the students on the trip.