What are you passionate about? It’s not a question for an admissions essay, but a start to find a cause.
Many students are coerced to volunteer through the organizations. Most major organizations have a community service chair, and all of greek life have national philanthropies and required volunteer hours.
Students need to understand the value of volunteering and how it could change their own lives.
But rather than going through the motions, packing bags at a food bank or spending an afternoon visiting retired people, you should find something you care about.
IU alumna Nancy Uslan found her passion in child literacy on a trip to Rwanda. The goal was to learn more about the mountain gorillas in the country, but Uslan found herself helping children of a recently genocide-ridden country to never repeat the past.
“I’ve always been a nurturer,” Uslan said.
With a background in nursing, she expected to initially start philanthropic work centered around healthcare. When she stepped back, she realized she could make a significant difference focusing on childhood literacy.
Her solution to the problem was to found Books and Beyond, a campus organization that works with the local elementary school children to write and publish books in English that will be sent to the Rwandan school system.
“Students need experimental learning,” Uslan said. “When you can feel the impact, that’s where the learning really happens.”
The project has taken hours of work in writing the stories, recruiting students to manage the organization and keeping it funded. It has also managed printing the books in Kenya before shipping them to schools in Rwanda.
Uslan planted Books and Beyond among the IU Global Village Living Learning Center with the help of Assistant Director Lauren Caldarera.
“It was a natural step. I adored Bloomington. I knew I was going to give back to a place I loved for four years,” Uslan said.
This type of dedication comes from people who are truly passionate. Spending a few hours a week is the first step to fostering an interest in a cause.
Starting with one cause helps students build relationships and foster a deeper understanding of the people involved. Finding a passion lets students move from logging hours to truly changing their community.
Uslan’s focus on child literacy has spread to other areas under her company Neu Global. The company provides healthcare and water to Rwandan villages upon the foundation of Books and Beyond.
From Bloomington to Rwanda, investing in an organization is the key to changing the status quo.
@wkiepura
wkiepura@indiana.edu
