Campus Conversations: Day 3. Exposé and Work Program

Elikia presents in French (L)
as Pacifique translates (R) 

Following Wednesday’s English classes (May 21), the student body and staff gathered for and Exposé entitled, “Community Engagement for Creation Care: Case Studies from the Region.” Elikia presented information about DRC’s forests and the role of agro-forestry. Joel talked about his work in community waste management in Goma. Both men captured the attention of students. As Congolese, Joel and Elikia know first-hand the opportunities and challenges of capturing the imagination of their countrymen and women to engage in environmental stewardship. 

In addition to attending English classes and Exposé each Wednesday, students conduct their work program activities on Wednesday. Every student spends two hours in manual work (cleaning, sweeping, cutting grass, trimming shrubbery, emptying trash) each week, as part of his or her tuition commitment. Work program also reminds students of their responsibility to serve and continue in physical work, regardless of their diploma, degree, or community position.

Rachel meets with students

Work program during Campus Conversations gave students a break from their labors. Each work program team met with one of the visiting guests to explore specific topics related to the week’s theme. One group met with Rachel to examine the shelter, sanitary, water, and farming needs of the local neighborhood. Another group met with Ben and UCBC’s construction and mechanical engineer to discuss renewable energy solutions. Kahi gathered another group to talk about the role of art in teaching and cultivating an appreciation for nature.

Grace, Ben, Saraphin (L to R)

As happened throughout the week, there were surprises and unexpected outcomes. Among them: Creation Care Volunteers. This volunteer group formed to organize education and waste clean-up activities in town and on campus. Saraphin and Grace, two applied sciences students, started developing a Creation Care website to post information and resources (as of this writing, they are looking for the best place and way to host the site).

Then there were the rolling conversations and impromptu meetings as students, staff, and faculty came forward with ideas, concerns, and stories of activities-in-progress:

Ben meets with a faculty
member and students

Joel offers advice to a student

• A team exploring how to develop a business around safe disposal of technological waste.
• A teacher who has been trying to educate his family about protecting nature.
• A local group of students and community members who, since 2007, have been helping a local market area to manage its trash, at the same time educating people about the importance of keeping water clean. The group also supports local youth athletic teams. Oh, and they do this all out of their own, personal funds.
• UCBC’s own efforts to commit to a solar solution for power needs.

Before the week of Campus Conversations began, several people asked how I was feeling about the week—if I felt that our plans were secure and in place. I answered, “Our planning team has done its best. It’s in God’s hands now. Will the week go the way Mary wants it to go? No. It will go the way it’s supposed to go. The week will be what it needs to be.”

And it did. And it was. (But there’s still more to share!)

Creation Care Volunteers begins to organize itself