Even though E-net is no longer my home page, I still check it occasionally. This week, I was delighted to find that an article called "Student and faculty build homes in Zambia" atop the site! I hope to get a full report from Tom and Steve in the near future, but for now, this article will satiate my craving for knowledge about the Zambia trip: http://www.elon.edu/e-net/Note.aspx?id=953450
The article made me think about the impact of the build on the eight Elon students' lives. By continuing the work and the legacy of Pericleans, they will become advocates for Zambian citizens and those around the globe that never get to enjoy the privileges that they do on a daily basis.
The majority of Elon students will study abroad at some point during their college career. As the leading Master's level university in study abroad programs, Elon offers many options, from semesters to winter terms and summers. There are so many exciting options - but so few that provide an equivalent of the Periclean experience. Yes, there are other trips to developing nations, but none have the academic history, vetted partnerships, and sustained commitment that the Periclean trips do.
Some of the study abroad options are to Periclean countries of focus, such as the semester and summer programs in Ghana and India. However, in order for students to gain the Periclean experience - working with vetted partners toward a long-term goal that facilitates global civic engagement - they must be Periclean Scholars or choose a Periclean return trip.
What's in it for us, the general population, to offer a trip like this to students? Students that are involved in a sustained service project will feel a connection to the country and issues of focus not just on the one trip, but in the long term. Just one Periclean experience can re-route the career of a young professional. Perhaps instead of joining a large banking conglomerate, one student will become interested in microfinance and work with people like those they met on the service trip to improve their lives. Maybe a student will gain a Master's in public health, instead of working for a large pharmaceutical company. Serving on a Periclean trip empowers students to think outside of helping themselves and toward helping their fellow global citizens. This is a benefit that we should all seek to reap.
I believe in the importance of bringing the Periclean experience to Elon students that want to study abroad. Providing support to Periclean partners, by supporting my training, is one way to do so. I invite you to join me in enabling frequent return trips to all Periclean countries of focus, to continue our good work and to change the lives of students.
This is reason #8 to support Periclean Scholars: new students' lives are changed with each return trip.
I'm glad you're dedicated to doing your part to save the world in your special way. Last week I recycled cardboard to save a tree. On the other hand, my company used many trees I'm sure to make thousands of displays and shipped product globally "for profit." My company brings employment, consumer products, and a chance for people to improve their standard of living to many. We have different ideals but the cause is parallel. I like corporate america, the banks, my loans, my car, airplanes, my pharmaceuticals, and those good things that improve lives. We're all in this together. Keep your ideals and hope alive Jill.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dad. I am not saying that things like banks and pharmaceuticals are bad. I will say, though, that too few young adults dream of growing up to change others' lives for the better. They dream of being rich and wealthy - and, as they find later, it is often at the expense of others. This is why I think we have too many lawyers and too few advocates, too many high-end specialist doctors and not enough rural doctors. I think that improving the lives of others should start to count as currency in mainstream America - every little thing counts, but the big things REALLY count. Keep on recycling. :)
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