Cummington, Massachusetts, United States
Intern for REDES (Réseau pour l'Emergence et le Développement des Ecovillages au Sahel), a community-based grassroots organization working to fight desertification in the Sahel region of Africa through a network of Ecovillages in Senegal and Mauritania. Participated in initiatives including reforestation efforts, cultivation of the community gardens and fruit trees, establishment of drinking wells, and producing literature and newsletters for the organization.
The Grinnell Community Meal provides a free nutritious meal to anyone in the Grinnell Community each Thursday evening. My responsibilities include meal preparation and serving, setup and cleanup around the meal, and working during the week with the board to plan meals throughout the year.
In this role, I taught horseback riding lessons to kids ages 8-16 years old, encouraging a love of horses and facilitating a safe and successful experience for each individual. Additionally, ran educational activities each day, which are grounded in experiential learning about the various farm animals at camp. Children are given the opportunity to take responsibility for the animals and learn how to safely enjoy caring for them. This position also involved collaboration with a team of specialists to develop lesson plans, learning opportunities, and local field trips for campers.
The Iowa Kitchen is a non-profit organization that provides free meals each Saturday to anybody in the local community who may need it. During my time working at The Iowa Kitchen, my responsibilities included kitchen prep, cooking, and meal assembly. I learned how to safely and efficiently prepare nutritious and delicious meals, and I also helped weed and harvest the vegetable garden, whose harvest supplemented meals. After my semester of volunteering with The Iowa Kitchen, I now run the social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram to advertise meals, and serve on their board.