Rockford University, the region’s leading private four-year educational institution, presented a donation of $10,000 to Kids Around the World on April 22, 2022, ahead of the university’s first international interdisciplinary service trip to Ecuador.
Today, May 17, 2022, 18 Rockford University psychology and physics students, along with three faculty and staff members, will travel to Ecuador where they will build a playground in conjunction with Kids Around The World, a faith-based, non-profit missions organization. The psychology students will interview local university students and community members to learn more about the Ecuadorian culture. Physics students will teach STEM activities to local children in after-school programs.
“Our commitment to service and internationalism is deeply ingrained in our institutional culture,” said Dr. Eric Fulcomer, Rockford University President. “Not only will our students have the opportunity to learn more about a different culture, but they will also help to build a space that will serve as a safe haven for children for many years to come.”
The Ecuadorian trip is supported by Rockford University’s Student Opportunity Fund, which provides financial support for student-based curricular or co-curricular activities or projects with an academic component. It will cover the cost to take down, refurbish, ship, and put up a playground.
Kids Around The World was founded in Rockford in 1994 by Rockford University Trustee Emeritus Denny Johnson. This will be its 44th playground in Ecuador, and will bring the total number of Kids Around The World playgrounds worldwide to 1,004.
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