October 23, 2015
Investigating the Power of Education and Community to Effect Global Poverty, Hunger, and Environmental Concerns
If knowledge is power, then education is the means of obtaining it. I interned at Heifer International’s Educational Ranch, as a Global Education Intern who utilized experiential educational to teach about Heifer International (HI) and the issues of global hunger, poverty, and environmental concerns that it addresses. Hl's mission is to "work with families and communities to end global hunger and poverty while caring for the earth." It donates livestock, technologies, and training about small-scale, sustainable agriculture. If a family receives something from HI, they must pass on the equivalent of their donation to another family in need when they can. Participants in HI programs also organize into self-help groups, which "pass on the gift" of their training to one another. In this way, HI taps into community networks and helps people to enable each other towards sustainable success. HI works to empower women, and works with communities that ask for help, rather than forcing their idea of help onto who they think needs it. This summer impressed on me the power of collective action and education--especially experiential education--to help heal the world.
Explore the MHC Social Universe >