Common Day of Learning projects emphasize service
Published: August 04, 2023
Author: Dave Bell
As each semester draws to a close, Greenville University students participate in an event called the Common Day of Learning. It’s a day that features presentations by several student groups that have been participating in the University’s Experiential Learning program during the semester. Often, that involves partnering with ministries or service agencies to further their mission.
On the academic side, it’s an opportunity for students to learn about effectively working in a group – researching and analyzing the mission and methods of their partner organization. Further, they are challenged to clearly and confidently present the results of their research to an audience of students and professors.
More importantly, though, many of the projects compel students to reach out to serve individuals, organizations, or communities in need – some in the Greenville area, some halfway around the world. That focus on service characterized several groups presenting at this spring’s Common Day of Learning.
Following is a summary of four of those presentations:
PROJECT PARTNER: Almira Manor Apartments, Greenville
Project Team: Zavier Shaw, Carter Kessinger, Ada Matthews, Jesus Garcia, Jill Car, and Emma Funk. Assisting the students were three GU staffers, Nathan Jenkins (business professor), Breck Nelson (chief economic development officer), and Phil Davis (husband of GU President Suzanne Davis).
Project Focus: Enhancing the Almira Manor Apartments building near the GU campus that houses disabled persons. Though the building was initially built by the University, it is operated by the St. Andrews Resources for Seniors System. Specific projects targeting by the group were:
• Adding a handicapped accessible ramp to the back deck of the building
• Building a smoking hut in the back yard area that complies with federal regulations, so the deck provides a space for smokers and non-smokers alike.
• Planting a garden and other vegetation to beautify the back yard area.
• Identifying potential funding sources for the planned projects.
Accomplishments: Though group members ran into some initial challenges researching city regulations and confirming the ownership of the property, they were able to make some headway on the Almira Manor projects. They secured estimates for the ramp and the smoking hut projects, researched potential funding sources, and wrote a request for a grant. Future Experience First teams will be able to take up the project, secure the necessary funding, and execute the construction phase.
Students said they gained a new appreciation for the multiple steps involved and the determination required to complete such a project. But they remained convinced that the project, when completed, will enhance the living experience of the Almira Manor residents.
PROJECT PARTNER: Hope Ignited, Guinea, West Africa
Project Team: Matthew Binion, Kyle Sunderland, Jenny Osmond, Peter Meinseth, and Milat Asefa.
Project Focus: To partner with the Hope Ignited ministry to communicate good hygiene practices to the children of New Guinea – specifically focusing on the importance of hand washing to prevent the spread of diseases.
Accomplishments: The team decided that the best way to encourage hand washing was to create a “how-to” poster with cartoon-style characters demonstrating the best washing practices and when washing has the most impact (after using the bathroom, after blowing their nose, after touching animals, and before eating). The posters will be displayed in a recently completed pediatric medical center in New Guinea and given to children to take home.
The team also purchased several fluorescent glow-germ kits that show Guinea children the germs on their hands, thus emphasizing the need for hand washing to avoid transmitting diseases.
Team manager Kyle Sunderland said that the project taught team members valuable lessons about helping others, particularly those in a different culture. “Serving others means sometimes acknowledging our own ignorance, and giving up time, energy, and preconceptions to not only help others with something they need, but also to learn about them as a people and a culture. We saw that growth happens in us when we truly put others before ourselves.”
PROJECT PARTNER: First Generation, East St. Louis, IL
Project Team: Julie Juarez-Heckman, Leah Brown, Amber Glazebrook, Deng Donato Pakak, and Rio Weeden.
Project Focus: The team sought to help First Generation, a non-profit organization in East St. Louis, IL, whose goal is to empower people living in under-resourced urban communities. The organization accomplishes that empowerment by youth mentoring, business education, and financial literacy.
Accomplishments: The Experience First team participated in East St. Louis’ Community Clean-Up Day in early April, producing much goodwill among residents there. The team also raised more than $2,000 (through a bake sale and a trivia night event on the GU campus) to be donated to First Generation.
PROJECT PARTNER: Care Portal
Project Team: Charles Ingram, Nick Korte, Johnathan Carrell, Rachel Koebbe, Brent Roach, and Adam Fike.
Project Focus: The Experience First team partnered with an organization called Care Portal, an online platform that helps coordinate services available to at-risk children when a crisis occurs in their family. Care Portal works well with churches and community volunteers to provide that care, but it has struggled to partner effectively with law enforcement officials.
Team members, therefore, focused on finding ways that Care Portal can improve its relationship with law enforcement personnel to help children in that phase of crisis care. To better understand the situation, the team – with valuable input from several GU officials – created a survey that was sent to law enforcement personnel to see how Care Portal can better work with them to serve the needs of children in crisis.
Accomplishments: Officials at the Care Portal liked the survey so well that they plan to use it in other communities they serve to create productive partnerships with law enforcement officials. By enhancing their working relationship with law enforcement, Care Portal hopes to provide more comprehensive care and support for children in crisis situations.
