The Perspectives That Divide Us - Rockhurst University

Ana CiminoSenior Ana Cimino spent last yearstudying in Paris. But her passion for sustainabledevelopment and fair trade soonleft her feeling out of place in the fashioncapital of the world.A month later, she was living in a mudhut with no electricity and no runningwater in a small farming village in Kenya.And she felt at home.While the French major valued hertime in France, she felt a calling to bewith those on the other end of the economicspectrum. So she partnered withan organization called Foundation forSustainable Development and servedan eight-week summer internship inLubao, Kenya.After getting to know the area and thepeople, Cimino was charged with conductinga needs assessment to see howshe could contribute.“You don’t want to step on their toes,”she said. “You want to help out but nottake over.”The area’s three-year-old peace centeroffers community education on topicssuch as alternatives to violence andreconciliation among communities— topics that are especially relevant toresidents of that region. Cimino decidedon a project that would promote participationin the center’s programs and helpthe center generate revenue.Her project? To offer a sign of peace tothe residents of tiny Lubao. Literally. Withthe help of some hard-working local volunteers,she designed and built a gardenin the shape of a peace sign. This peacegarden will allow residents to grow andsell vegetables and earn revenue to helpthe center become a sustainable communityresource.Cimino found the experience verymeaningful.Senior Ana Cimino“It’s important to go abroad,” shesaid. “A lot of people have preconceivednotions about Third World countriesand think it’s all about hopelessness andpoverty. There’s also people there whomake it real, who want to show you thereal Kenya and don’t want to be seen as acharity case.”Cimino will graduate in May withdegrees in history and French and aminor in nonprofit leadership studies.She plans to return to Lubao to serve asa project coordinator for a year beforeentering graduate school.David LeFebvreDavid LeFebvre spent his summeron the 19 th floor of a downtown officebuilding as an intern for AmericanHumanics. AH is a national alliance ofcolleges, universities and nonprofitsdedicated to preparing the nextgeneration of nonprofit leaders.As an intern, LeFebvre’s job is tocoordinate a three-day American HumanicsManagement Leadership Institute inJanuary, so his internship actually willcontinue until the event. He has beenbusy coordinating staff members, guidingcommittees and preparing to host a conferencethat will bring together more than800 students and nonprofit professionalsfrom around the country.“It’s intense, but it’s an awesomeopportunity to network with boardmembers and others in the nonprofitsector,” he says.Junior David LeFebvreIn recognition of his dedication to thenonprofit sector, the organization selectedhim to receive the American HumanicsNextGen Leader award, which includes ascholarship to help cover living and educationalexpenses during his internship.LeFebvre is a junior majoring in communicationand nonprofit leadershipstudies. He’s also earning a certificate inAmerican Humanics. After graduation, heplans to continue his work with nonprofitorganizations, but probably not on the19 th floor of a downtown high-rise.“I want to work on the ground level —something in volunteer managementor a community organization,” he says.“I want to work with people in anorganization that serves young people.That’s where my passion comes from.”Ro c k h u r s t4w i n t e r 2007 17