People
do not always think about the impact a new culture can have on them. In
30 days, your life can change forever. Kelsey Johnson, a
Pre-Professional Animal Science major, is an example of what 30 days in a
different country can do for your life. In the summer of 2016, Johnson
decided to join the Community Development Program in Mozambique.
Johnson
became inspired by the Mozambique program after attending a study
abroad fair in the Union. She then had a meeting with one of the leads
for the program, Dr. Lanier Nalley. Johnson stated, “By the time I
walked out, I was convinced and set on going to Mozambique!”
Her project was to perform an experiment in Nampula, Mozambique on a poultry farm called New Horizons.
“I
invested an immense amount of time and effort to ensure that my project
was successful and benefited the New Horizons business as well as the
lives of the Mozambican people,” said Johnson.
Chick mortality
rate is the issue she was facing in her experiment and is one that has
plagued the poultry industry in Mozambique.
“My experiment
involved aiding in the problem of chick dehydration during transport,”
said Johnson. “My plan was to help cut down the mortality rate of the
chicks in the first seven days. I created a concentrated gelatin product
that I used to help hydrate the chicks on their way to the out grower
farms.”
She prepared for this experiment before she ever arrived
in Mozambique. Her hard work and dedication led to a successful project.
“Before
I arrived in Mozambique, I ran a trial run of my experiment to discover
what the best concentration of gelatin would be to use on the farm,”
said Johnson.
While in country she ran into a few problems with
the gelatin she created, but with a little perseverance and patience,
she was able to overcome the obstacles. Some of the obstacles she faced
was the concentration she created melted too quickly in the heat, and
the way she was going to administer the gelatin proved to be too
difficult.
“I had to recreate a more concentrated gelatin product
and reconstruct the way I fed the gelatin to the chicks. Having to
overcome these obstacles taught me problem skills that I could never
have learned in a classroom.”
She used this experience to reflect on an aspect of her life that allowed her to grow and change in a positive way.
“As
a student I have always worked hard to ensure I made excellent grades,
but many times I think I was just yearning for an A rather than actually
paying attention to what I was learning,” said Johnson. “After seeing
the kind people of Mozambique, who would love to get the chance to go to
college, I now have a greater appreciation for my education and way of
life. Now I plan on working even harder to understand and apply what I
learn in the classroom to my life. I also have a much more positive
outlook and will complain less because the people of Mozambique are
always smiling and so should I!”
This experience shined a light on a new future for Johnson and gave her affirmation that she is on the right path.
“My
international experience solidified my thoughts about continuing to
veterinary school after my first four years of college,” said Johnson.
“I want to work hard and learn as much as I can so that I can go back to
Africa one day and help the people there with the advanced skills I
will learn. I’ve also decided that I might minor in poultry science so
that I can go back to New Horizons and continue to help them in the
future.”
The work she completed in Mozambique inspired Johnson to
change; she advocates for this change when speaking to other students
about committing to an international experience.
“There is no
better way to gain academic skills than abroad because they can be
actively applied in a real-life setting,” said Johnson. “It is truly a
unique experience that allows students to grow personally as well
because the environment is so drastically different compared to the
United States.”
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To find out more about the faculty-led Community Development
in Mozambique summer program, visit
http://studyabroad.uark.edu/mozambique.
For information about Bumpers College international program opportunities, visit the
Bumpers international site.
Bumpers College offers faculty-led programs to Belgium, England,
London, China and Mozambique; courses and exchanges in France and
Austria; internships in Greece and Scotland; and research in Brazil, the
Philippines and Greece.
