The College of Health and Human Sciences and the College of Education and Allied Professions at Western Carolina University (WCU), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education in Botswana, Africa carried out a four-week Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad (GPA) in Botswana, Africa for 6 WCU graduate students in Special Education and Communication Sciences and Disorders, 6 public school special education teachers and speech-language pathologists from North Carolina, and 3 faculty members from WCU.

The project built upon an already existing relationship between WCU and Botswana. Participants worked side-by-side with Botswana special education teachers and speech-language pathologists in eight different special education units to develop and share curricular activities and communication strategies. The team provided professional development at the Autism Botswana Conference with attendance by 100 families who have children with autism. A meeting was also held with the World Health Organization with the goal of developing disability awareness, definitions, and education. Primary outcomes for this project were to develop participants’ intercultural competence and cross-cultural communication skills while engaged in this intensive four-week program with Setswana language instruction, content seminars, visits to 8 different regional schools with special education units, and cultural site visits.

Amy Rose and Karena Cooper-Duffy – Fulbright to Botswana 2018