Two rising senior Caldwell Fellows, Andrew Arden and Joseph Farley, are making headlines in Europe – the good kind! On July 3rd they set off from Hamburg, Germany for a three-week, 750-mile bicycle ride that is scheduled to end in Paris on July 24. Their journey takes them through Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and France. The goal is raising awareness and funds for refugee families in the Triangle area of North Carolina. They have been featured in video stories on ABC and CBS.
Read more about Andrew (left) and Joseph (right):
Andrew Arden is a student of political science and psychology at North Carolina State University, as well as Caldwell Servant Leadership fellow. He recognizes firsthand the struggles of refugee and immigrant families in America through the eyes many close friends. He is greatly bothered and affected that in his country, America, with “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” engraved into the symbol of our freedom, refugees are greeted with such resentment and vitriol. The hope is that through this trip, the team can not only support local refugees families in a modestly beneficial manner, but can better educate themselves about how other countries that are doing more to combat this crisis of humanity are handling and supporting refugees of war and climate change. Through better educating ourselves and documenting our experiences, the team hopes to raise awareness among peers about the refugee experience in Europe, and what lessons can be brought back to America about kindness and hospitality in the face of a humanitarian crisis.
Joseph Farley is a student at NC State University studying Psychology and Biochemistry. He aspires to become a research professor and to conduct brain research. Holding compassion as his core value, Joseph Farley has made it his priority to help others. He sees the refusal to accept more refugees to America to the refugee crisis as an affront to basic human decency and a violation of human rights.
Recognizing his duty to others and enthusiastic about this opportunity for personal growth, he decided to undertake this trip for fundraising with his friend Andrew. Their ultimate goals are to raise money for refugees and compare the attitudes toward refugees in Europe and America.
Donation page: www.youcaring.com/northcarolinarefugeefamilies-828575
Sunday, September 18 began several weeks of fundraising for a worthy cause – building a block of Habitat homes in Raleigh! This effort is coordinated by NC State. 40 teams built shacks on Sunday, and lived in them Monday through Friday of that week 24/7 to raise funds and awareness. The Caldwell Fellows have always been in the top three in fundraising and #1 in 2016.
