Instead of spending their spring break sunning on a beach or catching up on sleep, some University of Michigan students headed to Colombia, finding themselves wading through a muddy agroforestry project that used to be a cocaine farm, tasting cacao and tropical lulo fruit straight off the tree, and connecting with local leaders in a small Amazonian town who risked their lives to protect forests during Colombia’s brutal civil war that lasted over 50 years. 

The students, who are in a course called Colombia: Narratives from One of the Most Eco-Diverse Countries in the World (Environ 464), spent ten days in Colombia to strengthen their understanding of international environmental issues, particularly in one of the most eco-diverse countries in the world.  

Environ 464 is a first-of-its-kind travel course, supported by the Program in the Environment (PitE)—a collaboration between the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) and the College of Literature, Science and the Arts—and Global Michigan. Through the trip and related activities, the course aims to guide students in exploring various perspectives and complex narratives to help them understand environmental challenges and opportunities in Colombia. 

The class builds on a virtual exchange course in environmental podcasting taught by Emilia Askari, a PitE lecturer who has been teaching environmental journalism at U-M for decades, in collaboration with university partners in Bogotá for the last four years. Askari designed Environ 464 alongside Vanesa Hernandez-Jackson, a Colombian-American who is a program manager in the SEAS Office of Community Impact and Engagement. 

The two instructors led all 14 students on the trip—11 undergraduate students and 3 master’s students—who had the opportunity to interact with a range of stakeholders, including Santiago Forero Vega (MEng ’22), a U-M engineering alum who completed a SEAS Graduate Certificate in Sustainability with a focus on Sustainable Food Systems. His family owns an avocado farm near Colombia’s capital city, Bogotá. When the students visited, Forero shared how SEAS coursework directly impacts his work on the farm as they face challenges and explore more sustainable ways to produce the ever-increasingly popular fruit. 

Elise Willingham, who will graduate this year as an international and global studies major with a minor in sustainability, said about visiting the avocado farm, “I was deeply inspired leaving this experience – despite the demanding labor of farmwork, the challenges of pursuing sustainable agriculture and life’s general obstacles, this group is taking strides to become leaders in the realm of avocado farming in Colombia. I am eager to watch sustainable agriculture grow and gain more attention.”

The students also connected with journalists, business innovators, environmental activists, Indigenous leaders and peers at Universidad Jorge Tadeo in Bogotá and Universidad de la Amazonia in the southern Colombian region of Caquetá. They learned about Colombia’s rich natural resources during visits to the small municipality of Belén de los Andaquies in the Colombian Amazon and to Bogotá, which is recognized as a sustainability leader throughout Latin America.

When asked about the experience, the students shared how learning in the classroom and then traveling and having the real-world experiences in Colombia left lasting impressions. 

Diego Alberto Felix-Trejo, a junior majoring in public policy, said, “There is so much to unpack on this trip. I listened to incredible stories from the local townspeople, witnessed the rich results of successful grassroots efforts to protect the Amazon and saw firsthand a coalition of people working on pushing a society past its post-conflict scars.”

To learn more about the impacts and takeaways of this trip, check out the Global Connections Showcase: Reflections from Colombia on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 4 p.m. The event will have virtual and in-person components featuring guests from Colombia and students from the course. Please register here by Monday, April 14. A recording of the virtual portion of the showcase will be available after the event. 

The trip to Colombia would not have been possible without the behind-the-scenes work of many people, especially Nicole Rutherford, business administrator at SEAS. 

Each student in the Environ 464 class responded to the prompt, "Please share a moment from our trip that you will remember, and explain why." Their reflections are below. 

Anahi
Second-Year Graduate Student
Social Work
The Finca de Amazonia in Belén. I really came to love the Colombian cacao fruits. I will never forget their taste. It is hard to describe but somewhere between the texture of lychee and the taste of mango and other fresh, sweet fruit. After we had all just crossed a stream and soaked our shoes and pants, we gathered around the cacao trees and ate the fruits together. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and raving about how good the fruit was. It was a moment when I felt we were really bonding with our friends in Belén. Ever and Nelson were some of the most welcoming people I have ever met. They continued to offer us cacao until we were stuffed. I will never forget their generosity and willingness to open their community to us. Now, when I think back to Colombia, I think back to the kindness of those from Belén and the beauty of building community in the midst of the Amazon. 

Ava Kuiper
Undergraduate Senior
Chemistry & Spanish
Hot from the sun, wet from the rainforest (and my sweat), and smelling like DEET and sunscreen, I continued to tread up the mountain. Following the trail of Amazon expert hikers and Michigan students ahead of me, my damp hiking shoes plunged deeper into the mud with each step. An orchestra of crickets, birds and monkeys played their respective tunes as I listened to the squeals, observations and stories of those around me. One story, in particular, stuck with me. A conservationist and recent biology graduate, one of our Amazon guides, César, was not much older than myself or the other students on the trip. Even so, his life has differed drastically from ours. On this hike up to a lookout point in Belén, César shared bits of his difficult childhood. Every summer, he would traverse deep into the Amazon with his father, reaching an encampment where he would train for months as a child soldier. His father was a powerful narcotraficante and closely intertwined with one of the armed forces in Colombia. Learning about César’s experience was both a shock and a privilege. It reminded me that everyone has different life experiences and personal struggles that shape their identity, and they get to choose when (or if) to share them. Going forward, I plan to recall this lesson as I interact with others, reminding myself that everyone deals with internal battles that shape how they act, think and feel. 

Bibi
First-Year Graduate Student
SEAS, Environmental Justice
The sound of rain crowded around us. Nestled in the cielo, Herasmo, Nancy, and Aldemar spoke of spirituality, experiments, kinship and relationality. It felt as if the culmination of the past couple of days were leading up to this moment now entrenched in my brain, of us eating bananas and guayaba over cafe tinto and charla. We climbed and scaled to reach the sky, Herasmo leading us along silently, sometimes breaking the air with sharp and distinct whistles to call for his brother, met with only the sounds of the farm. The pigs snorted, and the clouds looked above. I found myself getting deeply emotional sitting across from Courtney, Christina, Herasmo, Nancy and Aldemar. It is easy to feel like hope is lost or you are fighting for a far-off reality, but in the cielo, you realize you negate the work that people have passed on for decades, centuries, millennia. I found what I did not realize I had been looking for. I listened, earnestly, trying to capture with precision every word they said, knowing this to be a pivotal moment in my life, something I continue to reference for myself. 

Christina Uytingco
Undergraduate Senior
Earth and Environmental Sciences, Environment and Spanish
Getting caught up in a rain storm in the Amazon seemed inevitable, but with Herasmo and his siblings, Nancy and Aldemar, it was one of the most incredible experiences. The house was on top of a tremendous hill, large pools of water filled with green duckweed, fertilized with pig slurry, pigpens sitting a bit higher with long pipes draining to the pools, chicken coops nestled beside various fruit trees, and after climbing to the top of the hill, sat a house comprised of a large metal sheet on top of a distinguished bedroom and kitchen. While the rain aggressively pinged off the roof, Nancy continued to walk down the hill in the rain to check on the chickens. Herasmo and Aldemar sipped on hot cups of campesino coffee along with some freshly picked guava and bananas. We accepted the fate of the rain, continuing to share stories and exchanging cultural norms, leading to many booming laughs competing with the noisy rain. Herasmo shared his understanding of the ever-changing climate and his hopes for the conservation of the environment. His belief in la Madre Tierra (Mother Nature) resonated with me as he told me that we can’t think that climate change will magically be fixed, real action must commence. 

Courtney
Undergraduate Senior
Program in the Environment and International Studies
It was under a metal roof, listening to the aggressive beats of the rain while speaking to Herasmo, the founder of Fundación Tierra Viva, when I was able to grasp nature's intricacies in a way that I had not before. Herasmo and I were waiting for his brother, Aldemar, to return from the town as he generously endured the rain to bring us back to our hotel on his moto. We quickly found ourselves in a fascinating conversation about the details in nature and the uniqueness of every living part of it. He grabbed a leaf near the edge of the shack, pointing out the uniqueness of the leaf. We observed the sequence of lines and connections that were woven throughout its veins, a bright green blade different from every other leaf surrounding it. He noted that when you observe, you can create. This is the only way that we can conserve our land in meaningful ways. Like every snowflake, leaf, flower and animal, nature has the power to form limitless formations that demonstrate the beauty of our environment everywhere in the world. Being able to look at a simple aspect of nature, truly observe it, and understand the interactions, processes, and livelihoods of the land you care about is the key to being able to make a positive impact. Impact is not forceful and oblivious, it must be profoundly intentional and informed. I have always been appreciative of the details within nature that I have been able to observe throughout my life, but anticipate carrying this anecdote on nature’s ability to empower change.

Daniella Harris
Undergraduate Sophomore
Psychology and Romance Languages and Literatures
On our first day in the remote Amazonian town of Belén de los Andaquíes, my three roommates and I decided to take a walk in the small park in the middle of town before dinner. The humidity was sticky, and we were tired from traveling but excited to explore our new surroundings. As we walked, we heard a quiet “Hi”. Turning around, we discovered that it had come from two girls who looked about our age. After a short conversation, we discovered that they were locals and had made plans to meet for empanadas. As we exchanged contacts, we didn’t think much of it at the time. However, after only a few minutes of knowing us, they were kind enough to invite four foreigners into their home, where we were welcomed by their whole family with delicious food. Only in a place like Belén would this happen, where so much trust and generosity was given to perfect strangers. This first encounter led to more nights of sharing moments together and forming a friendship with this family who is so different from us. I hope to show the same openness and kindness to strangers in the future, as it led to a very fulfilling and beautiful experience that I never would have had otherwise.

Diego Alberto Felix-Trejo
Undergraduate Junior
Public Policy
That night, a brown street dog with white spots followed us around. You could hear the blasts of Mexican corridos playing from the speakers across the street in the cantina. Wrapping up on the trip’s final workshop, I went to visit the arepa shop one last time with a friend. 

The opportunity to have something homemade like this, made with pride and care… it would probably never come up again. I had just placed my order when I heard a voice call from behind me. 

“¿Ya se van mañana? So you leave tomorrow?” It was Doña Lily, one of the ladies who ran a women empowerment group for the town. 

“Si, nos vamos mañana. Estamos aquí porque Diego quería una última orden de arepas,” Yes, we leave tomorrow. We’re here because Diego wanted one last order of arepas, my friend said.

“No te gustaron?” You don’t like them? Doña Lily asked my friend.

“Me gustaron solo que no tengo hambre ahorita.” I like them, I’m just not hungry now. 

“Yo tambien vine por una orden, solamente que esta no sera mi ultima, jaja!” I also came for an order (of arepas), only because they’re here and they won’t be my last, haha! We all laughed at her joke. We began chatting about the trip and what we enjoyed doing. 

“Es bueno tener visitantes, yo recuerdo que hace veinte años, aquí nunca encontrarás alguien afuera en la calle a estas horas.” It’s good to have visitors. I remember when I was 20 years old, here we never ran into anyone outside on the streets at this hour. Doña Lily had lived here her entire life. This town had heard, seen, and lived through the chaos of conflict. It seems like everyone except the very young had memories of being caught in the middle of a shootout. 

It's only been ten years since this town began to deal with the scars from armed conflict…If there is one thing that I learned in my studies within public policy, it's that governments love to create commissions. Truth commissions are an international phenomenon, launched to collect data and to describe a narrative that unfolded during times of civil unrest, the goal is to form a “collective memory.”

What does a collective memory look like? La Escuela Audiovisual Infantil (Children’s Audio-Visual School) in Belén has its own version. It worked on an initiative to form a local collective memory. An ordinary-looking children’s book, except with short stories of childhood memories that the conflict stained. 

Doña Lily doesn’t have an account in this children’s book, but her story lives on in the work she commits to Ayacunya, in her support and dedication to push herself and other women on their post-conflict journey. 

There is so much to unpack on this trip. I listened to incredible stories from the local townspeople, witnessed the rich results of successful grassroots efforts to protect the Amazon and saw firsthand a coalition of people working on pushing a society past its post-conflict scars. 

Elise Willingham
Undergraduate Senior
International Studies
Getting to know Santiago Forero Vega and the 50-hectares of farmland he gets to call home was one of the most eye-opening experiences for me. Standing in an oblong circle, sheltered from the light rain pattering on the roof of the horse stables and surrounded by acres of lush terrain, we were lucky enough to get to know the individuals who make this avocado farm the incredible place it is. Teasing the shy ones, praising the hardworking women, and doting on the modest ones, Santiago seamlessly translated between his 14-person team and our hodgepodge group of visitors. In this moment, the team felt much more like a family than a mere group of coworkers. I was deeply inspired leaving this experience – despite the demanding labor of farmwork, the challenges of pursuing sustainable agriculture, and life’s general obstacles, this group is taking strides to become leaders in the realm of avocado farming in Colombia. I am eager to watch sustainable agriculture grow and gain more attention. 

Janet Alanis Larios
Undergraduate Freshman
Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity 
The most impactful moment for me would be when we had the opportunity to walk through the Amazonian forest. I found it really interesting because one of our tour guides, Nelson, was showing us all these kinds of plants and being able to tell us what these plants can give us, re-emphasizing the idea that nature can provide for us if we let it. For example, one of the plants he explained was the main ingredient used in malaria pills, even giving us a taste of the plant, while another was a type of tree that gives water. I loved being able to see all the various plants and bugs along the way, seeing this type of environment thrive and grow as it holds so many possibilities, the noise of the rain hitting the leaves as the sun shined through the leaves made it seem like I was in a movie and I loved it. Overall, it was definitely a unique experience for me and a trip I will never forget. I fell in love with the beautiful culture, the impactful people we met and the delicious food. This was a course I would definitely recommend to students to experience. 

Madeleine Schouman
Undergraduate Sophomore
Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity
On our last night in the small town of Belén de los Andaquies, my three roommates and I were busy packing our suitcases with mildew-smelling socks and muddy boots when we heard a knock on the door. We opened it to find the hotel owner. He told us that we had visitors waiting for us outside. We left the room in flip flops and pajamas, wondering who it could be so late at night? There, standing outside the lobby doors, was Maryi (13), Scarlet (4), and both of their parents. In each of their hands was a collectible 20.000 pesos coin from the Dad’s personal collection engraved with traditional Colombian symbols. Something to remember Colombia by was what they told us as they placed one in each of our palms. From the first day we met Maryi and her family, they warmly welcomed us into their home with empanadas, arepas, picada, and many questions about our lives. We were strangers and foreigners, too, but still, we were greeted with generosity and kindness. Going forward with my life, I hope to reciprocate this level of kindness to the strangers I meet.

Olivia Hollenbeck
Undergraduate Senior
Information Science
Our visit to the Finca de Amazon (The Farm of the Amazon), during our first full day in Belén, was memorable for me. We were able to meet Ever Castro, the owner of the farm, and he shared his story about farming illegal cocaine crops and his transition to growing native Amazonian fruits. It was impactful, and allowed me to gain a better understanding of how the illegal drug trade has impacted everyday people in Colombia. At one point, we had walked deep into his farm. There were just a few of us with Ever, as the group had broken off into exploring different things. It was very quiet and peaceful, you could hear our shoes crunch on the wet leaves below us and see a few mosquitoes and bugs in the air swarming around you. Ever shared with us the meaning of the land, who he works with on the land, and pointed out special fruit to us. We were able to try Cocoa, the fruit used to make chocolate. It almost tasted like a Sour Patch Kid: super sweet but also super sour. This was a memory I will cherish forever, and such a unique experience to meet Ever and learn about his life and farm.

Sofia
First-Year Graduate Student
SEAS, Ecosystem Science and Management
A memory that stuck out to me was during my time on Santiago's avocado farm, in particular, our time riding on a horse. Personally, I love horses, so this was a special moment for me during the trip. This experience made me feel connected to the horse, animals, and, importantly, nature. In the United States, I feel that disconnect with nature, but my time in Colombia grew my bond with nature. In my endeavors, as an ecologist, I hold the principles that humans are intertwined with nature and not separate entities to nature. During the experience of riding the horse, I got to soak up the natureza (nature) all around me: the wind on the back of my neck, my soul connecting with the horse as it moved across the land, the smell of wet vegetation around us. This immense amplification of my senses made me feel more grounded and closer to nature, which was a great reminder of the passion I have for my field.