Global learning students in Italy engage in day of service in the Florence community
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
Serving the community is a hallmark of the Lipscomb University culture whether it be on its campus in Nashville or around the world in one of its study abroad programs.
On Thursday, Oct. 5, students studying abroad as part of Lipscomb’s semester-long program in Florence, Italy, engaged in a day of service to make an impact on the community they are calling home for a few months this fall.
The group of 16 Lipscomb students studying in Florence this semester, spent the day at St. Marks English Church clean out and clean up an apartment unit in the building that the church leases that had fallen into disrepair under the tenant who occupied it for about 40 years.
The students discarded old furniture and other unusable appliances and household items in the approximately 600-square-foot apartment. Students also removed plaster from the walls, removed about 20 bags of trash, scrubbed walls and floors, removed carpet that had been glued to the original tile floor, scraped paint from window panes, cleaned windows and more to prepare the apartment to receive a new paint job and to welcome a new tenant.
“The students worked for about three hours, rarely taking breaks,” said Deby Samuels, resident director in Florence this semester. “Father William Lister and his very new bride Fiona — they were married last week — worked with us the entire time. Through our work we likely saved the small congregation several thousand euros.”
St. Mark’s English Church on the Via Maggio opened its doors for worship in 1881, and was especially welcoming of tourists to Florence. It offers a variety of worship services for residents of Florence and visitors.
“I should like to commend most warmly the voluntary assistance given to our church today by students from Lipscomb,” said Lister. “We rely entirely on giving to provide for our ministry and mission. One important means of generating income is through the flats we have here, but these are also used to enable ministry by providing accommodation to those who work for us. Your students were able to clear an old flat which has just become vacant (after 40 years) and which yesterday was uninhabitable. Today, it is very close to being back in service.”
Lister said the congregation is considering using this flat for its next choir director.
“Since music is one of our key outreach programmes for young people here in Florence, the team today have made a significant contribution to our musical tradition,” he said. “The group was hard-working, considerate and cheerful. They were excellent ambassadors for your university and we are most grateful to you all for this invaluable assistance. I hope and pray that it will also prove to be a real blessing to all those involved.”
Service is an important component of Lipscomb’s global learning programs.
“Every Lipscomb study abroad program must engage and impact the communities in which we live,” said Michael Winegeart, director of global programs at Lipscomb and executive director of its Spark initiative. “The students develop and own the service learning projects they participate in. This kingdom perspective not only opens students’ eyes, but sets the stage for them to continue to grow in ways that are inspired by their course of study and driven by a desire to make a difference locally, regionally and globally.”
Lipscomb’s Global Learning Program offers a variety of short-term and semester-long travel learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Semester-long programs are offered in Florence, Italy; Vienna, Austria; London, England; and Santiago, Chile. Short-term travel study opportunities are offered as part of select courses, majors or other programs.
Want to know more? Visit www.lipscomb.edu/globallearning.