Reason #2 to Support Periclean Scholars: Improved Quality of Life for a Lifetime

Today, a group of 10 (two professors plus eight students and alumni) return to Kawama village near Ndola, Zambia, to build on the foundation we laid in January 2009! The group will work with Habitat for Humanity coordinator Voster Tembo and build housing for orphans and victimized children. The group also hopes to help set up a clinic and hammermill (corn grinding machine) processing business within the community.

For some on the build, this will be their second or third experience in Zambia with Habitat for Humanity. They understand the history behind the build and know the community's greatest needs. They have explained to the group why they have returned and their objectives for returning. They will ensure that all are on board and prepared for hard work, both building and taking in the vast difference in lifestyle.

But what about those students and alumni who have never been to Zambia, let alone Africa? They are likely seeing the build as part of a once in a lifetime experience. While on the trip, they will learn that their experience in Zambia will end in a month and will yield treasured memories - but the Zambia that they see is the lifetime for millions of Zambians. Just about all Americans have dreamed of going to Africa and feel it is possible at least once in a lifetime, but the reverse is rarely true. A very, very small fraction of Zambians can realize the dream of traveling abroad - let alone to America.

By recognizing this long term poverty gap, Pericleans are motivated to use their resources to set our fellow global citizens on the path to a better quality of life. They will always be able to see the houses they once built and the flourishing citizens that inhabit them. By keeping in touch with the community's greatest needs, such as a health clinic, they can start that community on the path to having those needs met in the long term.

I am so thankful for Tom and Steve for having the vision to bring a student-alumni group back to Zambia - to continue working on the challenges of the class of 2009 to improve the quality of life for Zambians and to change the lives of more Elon students and alumni forever. Best wishes for a safe and successful build.

This is reason #2 to support Periclean Scholars: improved quality of life for a lifetime.