“Freely ye received, freely give.” These well-known words have long stood as the motto of Pepperdine University. The service that Pepperdine brings to the community is seen by and large in the many opportunities for students in Malibu (images of Step Forward Day and Project Serve come to mind), but this past year many students in the International Programs have been carrying the banner of Pepperdine service all over the world.
Whether embarking on a service project to Sicily, playing with kids in Romanian orphanages, or performing at a nursing home, Waves abroad continued to be Waves of service. One exemplary form of this service was facilitated through the Buenos Aires program over the course of the entire year.
Within the first week of arriving in Argentina, Pepperdine students were given the opportunity to visit Adulam, a village composed mostly of single mothers and children.
Emily Scott-Lowe, the visiting faculty for the year, explained that “the intent was to get our Pepperdine students serving immediately” with the hope that students would continue to serve at Adulam throughout the year. This hope was fulfilled as “students began to see Adulam as part of the BA experience,” Scott-Lowe said.
Students served in every capacity, from doing arts and crafts and playing with kids to manual work like scraping paint and building chicken coops. Paige Armstrong, a junior and IP alumna, shared her belief that “students keep returning to serve at Adulam year after year because they are able to both see and feel what a positive impact they are making in the community.”
The Buenos Aires program’s continued involvement in Adulam took a definite turn in 2006 when Pepperdine alumnus Rob Stone visited Adulam with his IP group.
According to Johnson, Stone “saw the need for developing a micro-finance program and improving education in the community… to give them stepping stones to accomplish their dreams.”
Soon after returning to Pepperdine, Stone founded the One for One Foundation, which brings the blessings of micro-lending programs to Adulam and also establishes centers for higher learning in the education and business fields.
“Today we are often compelled to think globally, nationally, provincially, and finally individually,” says Stone. “One for One Foundation, following the example of Pepperdine, has tried to do the opposite, beginning with the individual and working our way up.”
The One for One Foundation has provided a definite connection between Pepperdine and Adulam, and continues to open up more avenues for students to volunteer their time.
But the BA group’s involvement with Adulam and One for One did not end with its return to Malibu. On the first Sunday after the start of the semester, they held a reunion-turned-auction to support an English teacher at Adulam’s newly built schoolhouse.
Dr. Scott-Lowe and other BA faculty contributed souvenir type items (mate, Argentine flags, candy), and Dr. Scott-Lowe even baked her famous banana chocolate chip cake for the occasion. Paige Johnson served as auctioneer, beginning the night with a letter from the One for One Foundation. Then the bidding began. “Everything went so fast,” says Johnson. “I was in a daze and in complete shock that fifty dollar bills were making their way up to the front for a serving of banana bread and a mini Argentine flag.”
She goes on to say, “It wasn’t about winning some high priced and fancy item; it was about raising money for Adulam and giving for the betterment of our friends in Argentina.” Over the course of the night, students raised over $600. Their goal at the beginning of the night had been $75.
Johnson welcomes the opportunity for both IP Alumni and the rest of the student body to benefit Adulam. “Anyone can go and volunteer with One for One at Adulam, whether they participated in the BA IP program or not,” she says. Dr. Scott-Lowe shared the amazing fact that “Pepperdine and now One for One are Adulam’s biggest sponsors, so they really do rely on us and we know what a difference we are making.”
To learn more about Adulam, One for One and how to support efforts there, visit www.oneforonefoundation.org.
