Que lo Que, a student organization that strives to see the world from different prospectives, held its third public forum Thursday, Feb. 21. A handful of students gathered in the honors village library with open minds, not sure what to expect from the discussion. 

Que lo Que is an organization that takes a new approach to international service. It was founded by three wolfpackers: Hunter Isgrig, a senior in biological sciences, Brian Gaudio, a senior in environmental design in architecture, and Drew Brisley.

Members of the organization seek to help the community of Las Lajas in the Dominican Republic. They do so in three ways: the college immersion program, a skill inventory of Las Lajas, and advocating global citizenship in Raleigh. 

The first forum talked about “Tom’s” shoes, and an anthropology professor talked about his experience in Malawi in the second. 

The service organization has also held public forums for N.C. State students. The purpose of the forums is to reveal different public services and spark open-discussion about relevant issues in service, public policy and international aid, according to the Que lo Que Facebook page. “Our public forums hope to give students a chance to talk and learn something new about the world around them,” Gaudio said. 

The topic changes for each forum. The most recent forum was about Chinese Education and how it differs from American Education. This forum allowed students to learn about a different culture, bounce questions off their peers and ask professionals about their experience, but it differed from the usual. Forums generally focus on different aspects of international service and aid, but still provide students with a chance to learn about foreign cultures. 

Gaudio thinks there are not enough chances for students to sit down and talk about cultural issues at N.C. State. He said the group hopes to hold four more forums before the year is done. The group will hold a forum that will feature the Ghana Summer Study Abroad Program at N.C. State. 

Que lo Que has implemented a college immersion program in the Dominican Republic that seeks to learn about the community during the span of several years instead of executing a short-term project, finishing it and leaving the country. Members of the group have traveled to the Dominican Republic several times to learn about the community before trying to understand it.

The group did not arrive with the intent of “fixing” something, rather they intended to  help the community develop strengths that were already present. In order to do this, Que lo Que has created a skill inventory based on their research in Las Lajas. 

Aside from helping those in the Dominican Republic develop, Que lo Que seeks to bring the concepts of foreign cultures to students in Raleigh. The group does so in two ways, partnering up with the Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School and holding public forums for N.C. State students.

Que lo Que holds workshops at the Centennial Campus Middle School to get youngsters thinking. “We think it is important to inspire at the middle school level,” said Gaudio. “Not only do we want to spark critical thinking questions at the college level, we want students at the middle school level to start to ask questions about the world they live in.”

Que lo Que will embark on another trip this summer to further their research for the skill inventory project. Students from any discipline can help. If you would like to go on a trip, donate or find out more about the organization, visit the group’s website at que-lo-que.com