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beads the women of the co-op would use to make The 25 students who signed up were divided
bracelets and necklaces to sell. into three cohorts led by Thomason, Girard and
Glancing at the price tag on an already Evans. Students met with their cohort leaders
completed teal-colored necklace at the work daily to discuss their impact activities and attend
table, Lenora Rosier, 20, a junior Health Sciences shipboard educational seminars on such topics
Administration major from Dublin, said, “Fifteen as travel storytelling, social innovation and life
dollars? That just might get bought for my hacks.
auntie.” “This is like a gateway experience for many of
Rosier participated in MGA’s alternative them,” Thomason said. “We hope it turns them on
spring break service-learning trip to New Orleans to more international travel.”
earlier this year with Keigan Evans, the Univer-
sity’s assistant director of Residence Life. Evans, LEAVING THE BUBBLE
a staff leader for Knights Impact, talked her into
coming along on the Dominican trip. Knights Impact became a family affair for
“I love it,” Rosier said, twirling a soon-to-be sisters Moriah and Moreh Jackson of Warner
bead around a stick. “I think this is the beginning Robins. They signed up for the trip together after
of world travel for me.” seeing flyers posted around MGA.
“I felt like I was stuck in my little bubble in
“This is like a gateway experience for many Georgia,” said Moriah Jackson, 23, a Nursing
of them. We hope it turns them on to more major, who, along with her 19-year-old sister, a
international travel.” Psychology major, participated in the English
tutoring, water filtration and recycled paper
IDEA TO REALITY activities. “I wanted to become more aware of
how other people live their lives.”
For about a year, Fathom offered cruises to The impact activities proved exceptionally
the Dominican Republic – one of two nations on effective in opening their eyes to a way of life
the island of Hispaniola (the other is Haiti) – and they couldn’t have imagined before. The Jackson
to Cuba. All of the trips were specifically designed sisters were among several MGA students who
for people interested in impact travel. rode a bus for two hours to a rural site where they
Dr. John Girard, a professor of Informa- worked with local artisans to create clay water
tion Technology at MGA and frequent overseas filters that they then helped deliver to low-income
traveler, discovered Fathom in 2016 when he and Dominicans. More than three million people in
his wife began researching travel options to Cuba. the country have no access to piped or potable
While on that cruise, he learned more about water, according to Fathom.
Fathom’s Dominican Republic trip and thought it English tutoring took the Jackson sisters and
would be a great option for MGA students. most of the other MGA students straight into the
“It’s the kind of short-term, high-impact, homes of Dominican families or into school class-
low-cost international experience that is perfect rooms. Dominican youngsters, all wearing the
for students who can’t afford a more traditional standard school uniform of light blue shirt and
– and much longer – study abroad program,” khaki pants, sat side by side or across from MGA
Girard said. students at classroom tables and practiced their
Girard pitched the Dominican trip to Dr. conversational English, a skill that could open up
Laura Thomason, MGA’s director of International more job opportunities for them in the future,
Programs, and to Tsavatewa. After some further especially in the tourist industry.
investigation, they crafted the Knights Impact At the Maria Concepción Gómez Matos
program and began recruiting students for the school, Edson Silva, 48, a Health Services
May 2017 cruise. Administration major who lives in Macon, helped
12-year-old Angelica practice her pronunciation
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Fall 2017 MGA TODAY 13
