2008 Woodie Awards
Recycled notebooks fund farm animals for rural villages
Seminar students bind books, profits support Mexican, Guatemalan families
Brian Thompson
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Buying a notebook made from recycled cardboard could help keep a family in Mexico together.
Students taking a seminar on the ancient Maya taught by Professor of Anthropology Jennifer Mathews, have put together notebooks from recycled paper and old cereal boxes, beer cartons and other cardboard items. The profit from the sale of these notebooks goes toward supporting rural Mexican and Guatemalan families.
According to Mathews the sale is part of a fundraiser which one of her classes participates in every semester. The class usually donates to a charity which is related to the topic they are studying in the course. Mathews said that since her students are studying the ancient Maya, the charity is aimed at helping people of Mayan heritage in Mexico.
The charity chosen this semester is Heifer International. With donations given by individuals, Heifer International donates farm animals to rural people in developing countries.
"It's not feeding people, it's giving people the means to feed themselves," said Mathews.
According to Mathews, previous fundraisers at Trinity for the same organization provided families with a goat, three rabbits, a flock of chickens and honey bees.
Mathews said that the class has raised $125 thus far and is hoping to end up donating somewhere between $250 to $300 by the end of the notebook drive. With $250, the class would be able to purchase from Heiffer International, for example, a trio of rabbits for $60, honeybees for $30, a flock of chicks for $20, a flock of ducks for $20 and a pig, sheep or goat for $120.
"A small amount of money can make a big impact in the quality of people's lives," Mathews said.??
Mathews said that most of the people they are raising money for live in impoverished, rural areas of Mexico and have traditionally been marginalized in society. The only alternative several families have is to break up and have some members migrate to larger cities. According to Mathews, these animals will give families the economic help they need to stay on their land and stay together.
Students in the class were involved in making the notebooks and selling them. According to Kate Spence, senior, each notebook is 100 pages long and is priced at $2.50. The pages are made of recycled office paper and the lot was bound at the Kinko's in Coates Library for a discounted price.
"We also take custom orders," said Spencer.
Custom requests can be brought to the Cowles Life Science building, room 332. There will be another general sale of the notebooks in the library in mid-November.
Julie Shaddox, senior, is also in the seminar and took part in the sale of notebooks.
According to Shaddox, each person made five notebooks. Shaddox said it took her about two hours to make her notebooks.
"In this way we can recognize an important part of archaeology. Although academic, we do not work in a vacuum. We show respect for the amazing people whose ancestors we study," Shaddox said. ?
Students taking a seminar on the ancient Maya taught by Professor of Anthropology Jennifer Mathews, have put together notebooks from recycled paper and old cereal boxes, beer cartons and other cardboard items. The profit from the sale of these notebooks goes toward supporting rural Mexican and Guatemalan families.
According to Mathews the sale is part of a fundraiser which one of her classes participates in every semester. The class usually donates to a charity which is related to the topic they are studying in the course. Mathews said that since her students are studying the ancient Maya, the charity is aimed at helping people of Mayan heritage in Mexico.
The charity chosen this semester is Heifer International. With donations given by individuals, Heifer International donates farm animals to rural people in developing countries.
"It's not feeding people, it's giving people the means to feed themselves," said Mathews.
According to Mathews, previous fundraisers at Trinity for the same organization provided families with a goat, three rabbits, a flock of chickens and honey bees.
Mathews said that the class has raised $125 thus far and is hoping to end up donating somewhere between $250 to $300 by the end of the notebook drive. With $250, the class would be able to purchase from Heiffer International, for example, a trio of rabbits for $60, honeybees for $30, a flock of chicks for $20, a flock of ducks for $20 and a pig, sheep or goat for $120.
"A small amount of money can make a big impact in the quality of people's lives," Mathews said.??
Mathews said that most of the people they are raising money for live in impoverished, rural areas of Mexico and have traditionally been marginalized in society. The only alternative several families have is to break up and have some members migrate to larger cities. According to Mathews, these animals will give families the economic help they need to stay on their land and stay together.
Students in the class were involved in making the notebooks and selling them. According to Kate Spence, senior, each notebook is 100 pages long and is priced at $2.50. The pages are made of recycled office paper and the lot was bound at the Kinko's in Coates Library for a discounted price.
"We also take custom orders," said Spencer.
Custom requests can be brought to the Cowles Life Science building, room 332. There will be another general sale of the notebooks in the library in mid-November.
Julie Shaddox, senior, is also in the seminar and took part in the sale of notebooks.
According to Shaddox, each person made five notebooks. Shaddox said it took her about two hours to make her notebooks.
"In this way we can recognize an important part of archaeology. Although academic, we do not work in a vacuum. We show respect for the amazing people whose ancestors we study," Shaddox said. ?
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