Santa Clara University

Community Living

Each semester, an outstanding group of students live together in a learning community near the University of Central America. Students live in one of three houses, Casa Romero, Casa Silvia, or Casa Ita, which are located just a minute walk from one another.

Upon arrival, all the students will be invited to help create their community environment by talking about and agreeing upon a variety of community norms such as simple living, community and spirituality nights, speaking Spanish while at home in the Casa, and much more. This type of living is an opportunity to enter fully with other students into the richness of community life.

In order to better support the Casa students, a Community Facilitator (CF) lives on-site full time. The CF is generally an alumni of the Casa program and works on staff for a year. Two UCA scholarship students (“becarios”) live at each Casa house as well. The presence of the becarios gives students the opportunity to develop relationships with local Salvadorans, practice Spanish skills, and serve as a link between Casa students and the other scholarship students studying at the UCA. Most importantly, this living arrangment offers students another means to learn more about the Salvadoran reality. Each semester, the Casa becomes a lively community with connections between the Casa students and the wider community of Salvadoran becario students.

We invite you to join the Casa community.