Use your language skills to get proximate to justice issues

The Engaged Learning Initiative is a partnership between the Department of Romance Languages and the Institute for Social Concerns, designed to integrate academic study with meaningful community engagement, bridging the classroom and the world in powerful ways. Students enrolled in Romance Languages courses work with Romance Languages faculty to consult with community partners, then develop unique semester or summer long projects. These jointly developed projects provide students with hands-on experiences that extend their second language acquisition, promote intercultural competence, and foster personal growth. Correspondingly, the partner communities gain resources, visibility, and support of their missions of education, inclusion, and justice.

Recent Projects

GoGenius App for Portuguese Learning & Refugee Assessment

Faculty Lead: Ana Fauri
Location: Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, Portugal
Community Partner: Sandra Figueiredo, GoGenius Research Center, Lisbon, Portugal

Students worked on improving the usability of the GoGenius App, a platform supporting Portuguese language learning for immigrants and refugees. “This project helped me grow as a researcher and boosted my confidence in running a study on my own. It taught me how to turn observations into clear recommendations.” (Ana Beatriz Ribeiro Soares)

Uncovering the PFAS Threat: Forever Chemicals in Brazil and the United States

Faculty Leads: Daniele Miranda & Márcio Bahia
Location: Bahia, Brazil & University of Notre Dame

Community Partner: Quilombola community of Cachoeira

Notre Dame and Brazilian students collaborated with the Quilombola community of Cachoeira to investigate PFAS contamination in water sources. Quilombola communities are Afro-descendant communities characterized by a cultural identity developed through specific relationships with the environment. Students received training in laboratory techniques for chemical analysis, developed cross-cultural competence through work with Brazilian peers and community leaders. The Quilombola community benefited from increased awareness of PFAS-related risks, as well as tools for advocacy in environmental justice struggles.

Voluntary Work with Keur Kamer Association

Faculty Lead: Alison Rice
Location: Paris, France

Community Partner: Keur Kamer

A student worked with Keur Kamer, an association dedicated to supporting migrants and refugees through cultural and educational initiatives. The student experienced significant growth in French oral communication, and expanded their intercultural competence and resilience. The partner organization benefited from the partnership through the development of literacy tools for migrant participants.

Why are we the way we are? Our roots and our wings

Faculty Lead: Rachel Parroquín
Location: South Bend, IN

Community Partner: Holy Cross School

This semester-long collaboration joined Notre Dame students with bilingual 4th graders at Holy Cross School. Together, they read Spanish-language children’s literature, reflected on identity, and co-authored a bilingual book exploring the theme of roots and wings.

El Hogar del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus/Holy Cross Catholic School

Faculty Lead: Elena Mangione
Location: Paine, Chile

Community Partner: Fundación PAR – El Hogar del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús

Notre Dame students worked virtually with residents and staff of El Hogar, a Catholic foundation serving individuals with mild to moderate cognitive disabilities.

Contact

The application process for summer of 2026 will open soon. To learn more, contact Ana Fauri, Associate Teaching Professor of Portuguese and Chair of the Committee of Engaged Learning Initiatives.