About Thoughts from Zambia
Friends:
In what promises to be a life-changing experience for them and a life-enhancing experience for some citizens of Zambia on the African continent, two members of The Redwoods Group will join students and professors from Elon University in building homes for the impoverished Jan. 13-27 and, I'm thrilled to announce, we will all be able to share in their experience through their regular blog postings during this time.
Since our founding in 1997, Redwoods has operated with a mission of service to others, dedicated to improving the lives of those within the broad communities we serve. We believe that business should be a powerful force for positive social change. This trip will mark the first time Redwoods has embarked upon international direct community service. We understand that charity begins at home and we're very active in our local community, but we also know that charity must extend worldwide to achieve lasting, positive social change. Redwoods Risk Manager Dan Baum and Amanda Nieman, a Johnson intern at Redwoods, say they are looking forward to the most important goal of the trip-the cultural exchange. The volunteers will work with Habitat for Humanity Zambia to build houses in the community of Kawama, in the eastern part of the country, near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They will sleep on a concrete floor under malaria nets in a mostly finished Habitat house that likely won't have running water or indoor sanitation. The volunteers also will meet with area nonprofits to learn more about key issues facing Kawama, such as housing, malnutrition and HIV/AIDS, and how Redwoods and Elon can contribute and participate over time in ways to improve life there.
As we prepare to celebrate Dr. King's birthday and Mr. Obama's historic inauguration here in the US, we're proud of Dan and Amanda for their selfless service to the people of Zambia and the Congolese refugees - and we think their good work represents beautifully the shared ideals of these two men.
Please join me and watch Dan and Amanda's blog over the next two weeks. Both are very special people, and I'm sure we'll all be inspired by their experiences.
Sincerely,
Kevin A. Trapani
President & CEO
The Redwoods Group