The most veteran pilgrims say that the Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James), belongs exclusively to each individual traveler, since “others can walk with you, but no one can walk it in your place.” This feeling, a mixture of curiosity and amazement, permeates every step of the route, where, at the end of the journey, the pilgrim receives much more than what he or she has come looking for.
Guided by this spirit of exploration and personal growth for yet another year, the International Studies Foundation (ISF) Camino de Santiago Program, a social responsibility initiative of CIS University, successfully concluded its fifth year. During the journey, participants traveled the final stretch of what is known as the “French Way“, that is, from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela, where most of the medieval routes converge, and which is considered the most important historical and cultural route.
True to its beginnings in 2017, the program is aimed at young people with high levels of academic performance from disadvantaged socioeconomic situations, who are offered the opportunity to experience one of the most emblematic hiking routes in Spain. This collective pilgrimage was born to promote interculturality and to be a meeting and exchange point for students from different backgrounds, providing a unique experience designed to positively impact their personal development.
As ISF’s Social Responsibility Coordinator, Nuria Sanchez, explains:
“On the final day, in front of the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, you discover that the unknown pilgrims with whom you took the first steps have become companions, forging bonds of friendship that will last over time. At the end of the route, the accumulated fatigue is transformed into deep gratitude, respect, and affection for all the people who have accompanied us”.
A way to strengthen ties between U.S. and Spanish students
The participants on this fifth year of the program included students from the USA and Spain, who were able to exchange experiences as well as do some hiking. This year, seven of the young people participating in the ISF Foundation “Go American English” program in Madrid were included. This project, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Spain and CIS University, provides extra-curricular scholarships based on learning English and exploring U.S. culture for students from different high schools in Madrid.
The Spanish pilgrims were joined by American students from Miami, selected by the Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation of Florida. Also, from the Bronx, New York, several students from AECI II: NYC Charter High School for Architecture, Engineering & Construction Industries joined the group. Finally, Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus of Florida, contributed five of their pilgrims from diverse backgrounds but with a common denominator: their high academic performance. Each one of them followed in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims along the path known as “the French Way,” which led them 62 miles (100 km) to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia.
“The real magic of this program lies in its ability to bring together young people from different cultures and different socioeconomic backgrounds in a shared experience of self-discovery and growth. The Camino de Santiago not only offers them the opportunity to explore their cultural heritage, but also allows them to develop interpersonal and emotional skills that will be fundamental in their future,” explained ISF President Maria Diaz de la Cebosa.
This fifth edition of the program is a milestone that celebrates its success, while reminding us of the importance of continuing to support initiatives that promote diversity, mutual understanding and building bridges between different communities. And none of this would have been possible without the extraordinary teamwork of ISF, CIS University, participating institutions, and program sponsors.
As the veterans of the pilgrimage say: “Memories and hikes will make good friends.” Congratulations, 2024 pilgrims!
