Rehearsing change
“[Rehearsing Change] really molded my perspectives on justice, system change, and solidarity. I uncovered my personal story, the power of creativity, liberation through art, organization, and ecology, and the need to use new relationships as a foundation for an alternative future.”
– Anthony Torres, American University
“Our Rehearsing Change experience was fundamentally shaped by the communities where we lived and studied. In some ways I think Rehearsing Change is more of an Ecuadorian education program that a few incredibly fortunate international students get the chance to do.”
– Ruby Goldberg, Brown University
"I like how this semester was a collective learning experience. It wasn't just teachers lecturing us; it was everyone learning from everyone."
– Claire Detrick-Jules, Brown University
“This program pushes you to live with and understand others from backgrounds which can differ dramatically from your own. In this program you are not just studying in a country, you're studying with a country. You work alongside people who have new perspectives and ideas that will stick with you.”
– Evan Oravec, American University
“It's hard to overstate how much I loved the past four months. I came upon Rehearsing Change by accident, but it's one of the best things that ever happened to me. It's changed my entire perception and imagination of what education can be. It's made me care about education. It's even made me wonder if I want to be an educator of some sort, which I assure you no other class, program, or institution of education has ever made me do. Basically--it mattered to me. It meant something. Because of the classes, excursions, and people, but most of all because of the model of education (that focuses on true learning, exploration, and dialogue instead of memorization / regurgitation), it helped me grow as an activist and as a person. For the first time in my life, I was proud to identify as a student.”
– Alice Markham-Cantor, Wesleyan University
“"Rehearsing Change has converted itself into a process of liberating education that has strengthened us as an organization, and encouraging us to work as a collective"
– Comments from the Collective Nina Shunku, written by Shadira Ruiz
“I never imagined a study abroad program could be this rewarding. Rehearsing Change has impacted me in a way I never thought possible. I've made new friends in extraordinary places, study topics I never thought I'd study, and grew as a person in a way I'm truly proud of... The decolonial model of Rehearsing Change should be the new standard for study abroad programs (and normal education) all around the world.”
– Stephanie Kridlo, American University
“"Rehearsing Change was an evolution in my own life. Since we began these classes and this exchange, we have learned so many things, such as valuing our land and neighbors, to create a more harmonious connection within the community and a wider vision of what the true meaning of community is, of working towards an objective that doesn't benefit just one person but everybody."
– Saul Bautista, Community Counterpart from Pintag
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"Learning to appreciate knowledge that comes from our myth."
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"Broadening my knowledge while reconnecting with our roots."
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"The wisdom of who I am and where I come from."
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"To know that each person has her own story."
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"An unforgettable experience because it helped us go beyond the apparent reality of our community"
– Kimberly Alvarado, Community Counterpart from Tzawata
“This was the most liberating educational experience I have had in my 21 years of learning. Although considered 'higher education', I felt I held agency as a student and thinker and felt space and encouragement to grow and share in fullness.”
– bronte velez, Brandis University
“I learned that my body is also a means of expression for resolving conflicts, a tool for empowerment... I broke through fears and paradigms... it was beautiful to see the transformation and evolution of everyone.”
– Chandra Bali Arape, Visiting Venezuelan Community Participant from Nina Shunku (Quito)
"Rehearsing Change is a revolutionary educational program that shows us how to blend local needs and interests with international student needs and interests. On a basic level, it presents a way for members of various communities to work together creating tangible solutions to real problems, while offering rigorous, stimulating college-level coursework. On a broader level, it inspires each educator and learner to work harder, think bigger, and remain truer to our ideals of justice and peace."
– Erika Ryser-Garcia, Former Assistant Vice President of Program Management and Development (Institute for Study Abroad - Butler University)
"Rehearsing Change is a beautifully conceived, meticulously run project of intellectual scope and great heart. Reciprocal, hands-on, immersive, and interdisciplinary, it is solid pedagogy. While I haven't had the good fortune of joining the team in Ecuador, all signs point to an indelible experience."
– Erik Ehn, Former Professor and Chair, Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, Brown University
Online programs
"The online classes with Pachaysana were a lot different than any other class I've taken, either online or in person. It was very discussion-based, very group-work based, very creativity-based with poetry, drawing, theater, etc. It was really fun and I learned a lot."
– Rachel Brunot, Ohio State University
"What I liked most was that everyone was so creative, and everyone was super open to listening to everyone else and new ideas about life and the world. It was interesting, super interesting."
– Emilia Acosta, Community Participant from Pintag
"Doing online classes with Pachaysana was great because it was project-based. It wasn't just like we were sitting in a lecture, we actually got to create our own material and work in small groups, which was really engaging. My favorite part was the 'Zoom Theatre,' which was basically us creating these crazy, elaborate productions over Zoom, with costumes, scene transitions, the whole deal."
– Will Sanders, Clark University
"We could express ourselves in more artistic and creative formats with virtual drawing programs and video editing. This made the classes much more interactive and greatly expanded our creative boundaries...of course, being able to all be present and actively sharing and creating in the same space at the same time together was a big morale boost and provided my day with something to look forward to, instead of having to watch pre-recorded lectures on my own time."
– Ian Hirons, Clark University
Workshops & Consultancies
"[Pachaysana] did a superb job of conducting a workshop and lecture for my classes on sustainable development at the University of Texas. They have assembled a team of outstanding quality bridging the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Their new international program has my highest possible recommendation."
– Dr. Gregory Knapp, Associate Professor of Geography Emeritus (University of Texas at Austin)
"Your presentation / workshop with my students was so meaningful, useful, and stimulating. The Image Sculpting showed us all a different, creative, and intellectually energizing way to re-conceive how we make art that is designed for positive transformation within individuals, communities, and societies."
– Elmo Terry-Morgan, Associate Professor Emeritus of Africana Studies and Theatre and Performance Studies and Artistic Director of Rites and Reason Theatre, Brown University