McKenzie and Paris, Tenn.–Bethel University’s Global Studies Director Stacie Freeman spoke to both the McKenzie and Paris Rotary Clubs last week.
At the Paris Rotary, Freeman spoke about Bethel’s Global Studies and its unique association with Bright Light Volunteers in Dallas. www.brightlightvolunteers.org/
Freeman said students travel to Peru, Costa Rica, Colombia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Cuba as volunteer workers to benefit the people of the local community. Many times, it is those travelers who are from Title I, low-income area. Many are first-generation college students.
She offers group trips for high school groups, Bethel groups and other colleges, Bethel alumni and their associates, and other youth and adult groups.
Bright Light Volunteers, as a non-profit, is hoping to offer the program to more students and other travelers. BLV is seeking grant funding or a writer of grant applications to secure funding to make the trips more cost-effective for travelers, many of whom do not have the financial resources.
On Tuesday, February 19, McKenzie Rotarians heard from Freeman and Dr. John Nelson spoke about biodiversity in Costa Rica and the growing problem of plastic waste throughout the world.
Photo: Freeman, center, is flanked by Paris Rotarians Sam Tharpe and Tory Daughrity. (Joel Washburn photo).