A Tusculum College class has started a project to fund an “ark” from Heifer International to help a needy family become more self-sufficient and is seeking assistance from the community.
Dr. Nancy Thomas’s “Theory and Practice of Citizenship” class has initiated a service-learning project to raise $5,000 to fund an ark from Heifer International, which will include two of everything from goats to cooking stoves. Dr. Thomas is an associate professor of English at Tusculum.
Realizing that water buffaloes, bee hives and llamas can jump start the economy of villages around the world, as well as pockets of poverty in Appalachia, Heifer International has worked to distribute animals, as well as other means of assistance, since 1944. The non-profit organization also trains farmers to care for the animals in order to become self sufficient. The organization only asks that recipients share their new knowledge and some of the livestock offspring with others. Heifer International has distributed animals and other aid to 20.7 million families in more than 125 countries.
The Tusculum students were treated to a lecture on the art of raising chickens to better acquaint them with Heifer’s focus on animal husbandry. Dr. Michael Bodary, an assistant professor of English at the college, brought several of his baby chickens to Tusculum and shared with students the value of raising chickens.
The focus of Dr. Thomas’s course has been building community through kindness. Students have in particular focused on Robert Bellah’s book, “Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life,” as they learn how to overcome obstacles when trying to build community.
The class has come up with numerous fund raising ideas, including a bake sale; learned the difference between a focus on individualism and one on creating community and studied various techniques involving fundraising. The students are also inviting the community to help fund an ark.
If you would like to be part of this project, please send contributions to Dr. Nancy Thomas, English Department, Tusculum College, 60 Shiloh Rd., Greeneville, TN 37745, by the end of October. Checks should be made out to Heifer International. Dr. Thomas noted that grandchildren enjoy learning at Christmas that a flock of chickens or a cow has been donated in their name to the organization.
Tusculum College students in a “Theory and Practice of Citizenship” course taught by English professor Dr. Nancy Thomas are seeking community assistance with a project to fund an “ark” through Heifer International to help a family become more self sufficient.