The residents of the Neptune Community at Academic Village learned how to make a positive impact on the local community. Neptune Community, which houses the Volunteers uKnighted living learning community, hosted Volunteer UCF to discuss issues facing the neighboring community of Bithlo. Volunteer UCF presented Project Bithlo and educated residents about the partnership that has been created between the College Democrats, College Republicans, Engineers Without Borders, and VUCF to help create an aquaporin system in Bithlo, an impoverished suburban food desert of Orlando. The presentation focused on educating students on the troubles facing the community residents, including pollution, water contamination and illiteracy.
Resident Assistant Raegan Sauer noted that the presentation was educational for residents and staff alike. “The presenter had a PowerPoint with pictures of the Bithlo community. She showed us a video of how to get fresh water to Bithlo,” said Sauer.
The program was successful, and educating students on the impact of the struggles in a community so close to home was eye-opening. Some attendees were really interested in getting involved in the Bithlo Project movement and signed up for emails to join Volunteer UCF.
Under the leadership of the Neptune Community’s Area Coordinator Jeremy Foskit, over 150 other social and community engagement programs have been hosted featuring activities such as: painting flower pots for residents of a local nursing home, writing cards for soldiers, and packaging hygiene kits for Clean the World.