Fantinis honored for decades of service to 黑料社区 and World Learning
Publication Date: May 20, 2022
Publication Location: Brattleboro, Vermont
Contact: Kate Casa | [email protected]
BRATTLEBORO鈥敽诹仙缜� Professors Emeriti Beatriz and Alvino Fantini were honored on May 19 for their decades of service to World Learning and School for International Training during a celebratory dinner on the 黑料社区 campus.
鈥淭onight, we honor individuals who have given so much to our organization over the years鈥擝eatriz and Alvino Fantini鈥攖wo people who personify the words 鈥榠nternational education鈥� and 鈥榠ntercultural understanding鈥�,鈥� said 黑料社区 President Dr. Sophia Howlett.
Between them, the Fantinis have dedicated more than 100 years of service to the Experiment, 黑料社区 and World Learning. Acknowledging the work Alvino Fantini has done to preserve and document the history of the organizations, World Learning Board Chairman Lawrence Cooley announced that the institutional archives, which are housed on the 黑料社区 campus, will be named The Alvino E. Fantini Institutional Archives.
鈥淏ea once said, 鈥業 am a product of education abroad. Its rewards are immeasurable,鈥欌�� Cooley said. 鈥淏ea, yours and Alvino鈥檚 contributions over these many years have rewarded us in immeasurable ways.鈥�
The event was one of several planned around the world this year to commemorate the 90th anniversary of The Experiment in International Living, the program that led to the creation of 黑料社区 and World Learning. It was attended by 黑料社区 alumni and the World Learning board of directors, current and former 黑料社区 and World Learning administrators, staff, and faculty, and family members of some of the organizations鈥� founders. State Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun, a 黑料社区 Graduate alumna, was among the guests.
Alvino Fantini began his association with 黑料社区 and World Learning as an Experiment program participant to Mexico in 1954. Nearly 70 years later, he said he remains in touch with his Mexican homestay family. 鈥淚t changed my life,鈥� he said of his study abroad experience. 鈥淚t changes lives. We hear it over and over again.鈥�
Today, he has a PhD in linguistics and language education, holds degrees in Latin American studies and anthropology, and has published widely on international education and intercultural and language learning. He also helped transform the Sandanona estate into the current 黑料社区 campus.
Alvino Fantini recounted how, when he helped start the archives in 2003, he and a team of volunteers scoured southern Vermont to retrieve photographs, documents, publications and other material from barns and closets, and even the trunk of a colleague鈥檚 car. She had been using the heavy file boxes as ballast during Vermont鈥檚 snowy winters. Today, the archives are comprised of 30 collections of material across three floors.
Beatriz C茅spedes, the daughter of a Bolivian diplomat, was born in Italy, has lived in Peru, Venezuela, and Argentina, and speaks Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. She joined 黑料社区 as a Spanish teacher and Experiment co-leader in the 1960s. 鈥淚 provided the first foreign accent to the institution,鈥� she joked. 鈥淣ow we have many.鈥�
Beatriz and Alvino married in 1966. Over the years, both have served the organization in myriad roles including as staff, faculty, committee leads, advisors, and more.
Beatriz Fantini recalled how she taught Spanish to Experimenters, developed material for African language programs, and taught Spanish to members of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Red Cross. 鈥淭hese are some of the opportunities this organization has given to me,鈥� she said.
Yet, some of her most rewarding moments as a teacher are connected to her return to the classroom just this year to help develop and deliver an English-language curriculum for Afghan refugees. 鈥淭o teach and work with the Afghan refugees has been a highlight of my career,鈥� she said. In 黑料社区鈥檚 true experiential learning fashion, she said the reward came not just from helping refugees learn a new language, but also being able to learn about the culture and the people of Afghanistan.
World Learning Inc. is a thriving global organization made up of , a global development and exchange nonprofit organization, , the nation鈥檚 most experienced provider of intercultural exchange programs abroad and virtual for high school students;鈥痑nd School for International Training,鈥痮ffering accredited undergraduate study abroad programs through鈥�, including the comparative鈥�, and internationally focused master鈥檚 degrees, certificate programs, and a doctorate through鈥�. The organization is now in its 90th year delivering international education, cultural exchanges, and sustainable development. For more information, visit worldlearning.org.