TWC ARCHES Spring 2013

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Alternative fall break trip educates
students on hunger, poverty
or most Tennessee Wesleyan College students, October’s fall
break means a break from classes and studying and a chance
to spend time at home with family. For ten students, one faculty
and two staff members, fall break was an opportunity to learn
about global hunger and poverty and what type of sustainable
solutions can help.
“Hunger and poverty are everywhere,” said Tiffany Dierden, a
TWC freshmen who participated in the alternative fall break trip
to Heifer International, located in Little Rock, Ark. “You just
have to open your eyes to see it.”
The Heifer ranch offered the TWC visitors the opportunity to
participate in education and service-oriented interactive learning
programs, which bring awareness of the great need in the world
and not only allow participants to give back but also serve as great
educational tools - both about the value of giving your service to
others and experiencing something for the first time – such as
milking a goat or harvesting vegetables.
“It was interesting to live like many people from third world
countries live but it was also melancholy to think about the
difficulties they face, while we take things like sanitary plumbing
for granted,” said DJ Thomas, a TWC freshmen.
TWC faculty and staff members who participated in the
alternative fall break trip were also impressed with the eyeopening
experience they had at the Heifer ranch.
“It was enlightening,” said Dr. Nancy Gregg, TWC assistant
professor of education. “I have traveled and done many mission
trips that have helped me understand the conditions of need in
developing nations. However, Heifer’s methods for providing aid
to families and communities are the most efficient and effective
that I’ve seen.
“With Heifer, people are taught how to use resources to help
themselves, not to simply wait on the next relief effort that might
or might not come to their community. Teaching community
members how to use the natural resources around them, how
to improve their food production and
how to raise animals to improve their
food and income resources is a lasting
education that truly makes a difference in
places of poverty in both the U.S. and in
other countries.”
12 ARCHES | Spring 2013
While Tennessee Wesleyan has been offering alternative spring
break trips annually, this year’s alternative fall break experience
was a first for the college.
“I hope that this first official alternative fall break will serve as a
springboard for future events for the TWC campus community,”
said Dr. Scott Mashburn, vice president of student life and
dean of students. “The Heifer International experience was an
informative and humbling opportunity for me. We were able to
learn about the impact that each individual has on our global
community and how we can each make a difference.”
Heifer’s alternative break programs have a primary emphasis on
education programs, utilizing team-building exercises that explore
the issues surrounding hunger and poverty and sustainable solutions
and challenge participants to examine their habits and consumption
on the path to becoming more responsible global citizens.
“Heifer changed us deeply and permanently for the better.,” said
Mandie Thacker Beeler, TWC director of the center of servant
leadership.
“Heifer Ranch’s Educational Center teaches you how to truly
serve people by experiencing food insecurity struggles, learning to
acknowledge and respect culture and finding ways to meet legitimate
needs. The Heifer International program is servant leadership at
its finest and their commitment to passing on the importance of
servant leadership is a wonderful lesson for each of us.”