How 400+ Baylor students chose to serve others around the globe this summer
This summer, Baylor Missions has sent (and is still sending) hundreds of BU students out to put what they’ve learned in the classroom to use helping others around the globe. All told, nearly 400 students, faculty/staff and friends have ventured out in 24 teams to locations in Ecuador, England, Guatemala, Kenya, Romania, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Washington D.C. and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas!
Here’s what these Baylor students have been doing this summer:
They’re supporting communities. In Ecuador, an inaugural team served the deaf community by hosting Bible clubs, tutoring kids, training youth, and helping with accessibility remodeling. In Uganda, Baylor engineering students helped build a basic utility vehicle at a local vocational training school. In Washington D.C., students dialogued with think tanks and nonprofits and advocated for effective programs on Capitol Hill to address food insecurity. In Zambia, a team worked with students graduating from high school to help them chart the next stage of their lives by coaching them in personal and professional development, as well as consulting on communication, marketing, customer service and entrepreneurship. In Uganda, two different teams worked with Restoration Gateway to observe and assist in a newly constructed hospital and outpatient clinic and work with the children, most of whom are orphans.
They’re teaching. In Kenya, speech-language pathology students provided speech, language and feeding assessments and intervention at a local school for children with special needs. Another group in Kenya worked with Naomi’s Village to model and mentor teaching strategies and deliver professional development. In England, a team from the Hankamer School of Business offered advice and encouragement to for-profit and social entrepreneurs. A group of accounting students in England consulted with church-sponsored, ministry-focused coffee houses. In South Africa, Baylor student-athletes helped global partners expand their campus outreach to athletes and coaches at the University of Johannesburg and VIT University. In Uganda, Baylor accounting and interior design students helped equip local business leaders with practical business skills and consulting services. In India, students provided education to rural health care workers and taught NICU nurses care for infants.
They’re healing. In Guatemala, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority members worked with malnourished children to help meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of children fighting malnutrition. Baylor Pre-Veterinary Medical Association members also served in Guatemala, assisting the largest animal rescue organization in the country. In the Rio Grande Valley, American Medical Students Association students shadowed and volunteered at clinics in underserved areas. In Brazil, Vertical Ministries and Baptist Student Ministries served within the Amazon communities while assisting with health, community involvement, and service. In Zambia, Baylor nursing students visited local schools for vulnerable children to help with health and hygiene education. In India, nursing students went on medical visits to rural villages and urban slums and taught sessions on CPR and first aid. In Guatemala, a team of incoming freshman spent their Line Camp serving at a malnutrition center. Next week, nursing students will head to McAllen, Texas, to assist a local church in providing meals, showers, clean clothing, and medicine to refugees.
They’re enriching lives. In Kenya, Baylor students and professors performed uplifting Swahili songs for local congregations and schools in multiple villages. In Romania, the Baylor Religious Hour Choir led worship and performed concerts in order to draw attention to the churches in the area. In Peru, the Baylor Jazz Ensemble performed at local schools, church congregations, outdoor venues, and large municipal auditoriums.
Sic ’em, Baylor Missions!