Sustainability in Zambia, Africa: Examining Partnership of an Agricultural Business and a Non-Profit Organization

The purpose of my study is examining the ways in which agricultural business is currently supporting and benefitting a non-profit organization. Through participation of an international agricultural business, Plant Sciences Inc. (PSI) and a Christian non-profit organization, Lifesong for Orphans, this study has been a collaborative effort and process, observing agriculture as a means of sustainability for a non-profit organization. This study has revealed the necessity of not only updated technology and resources, but has also discovered a continued necessity of dedicated personnel to the field. A major theme from my observations was cross-cultural relations, and the ways in which the continuing process of two disciplines (agriculture and non-profit work) coming together has created opportunity for further successes in areas such as: globalization, and economic sustainment. My work is helping bridge the two disciplines in the form of the efforts of PSI and Lifesong for Orphans by the means of a small sustainable strawberry farm. The project is revealing that the two practices, global non-profit organization work, and agricultural business, can rely on each other to achieve something other than the work they usually practice. Through PSI and Lifesong for Orphans, this study is an example of cross-cultural and agricultural business cooperation

Scheduling Recess Before Lunch: Perceptions of Washington State Public Elementary School Professionals

Recess Before Lunch (RBL) is a wellness strategy with a purpose of improving the overall health and behavior of school-aged children. While some studies have reported a variety of benefits and challenges by simply scheduling recess prior to the specified lunchtime, few have examined adequate strategies for successful implementation. This mixed-methods study asked elementary school principals and school food service directors within each K-5th grade public school throughout the state of Washington to participate in an online survey assessing their school’s experience using RBL. Schools were placed into three groups based on participants’ stage of RBL adoption: (1) currently using RBL, (2) previously used RBL, or (3) have never implemented RBL. Basic demographic information from each school was collected and matched to the survey responses. Participants from the online survey were asked to provide contact information of a school professional closely involved with the lunch services in their school to complete a semi-structured follow-up interview. Eighteen individuals, six in each of the three stages of RBL adoption, participated in a 10-15-minute phone interview to further investigate perceptions related to RBL. Roughly 75.8% of schools reported having some experience with RBL (N = 74). Benefits most often reported were associated with Nutrition & Food Waste, Behavior & Disruption and Scheduling, respectively; whereas the barriers included Scheduling & Staffing, Logistics, Nutrition & Food Waste and Behavior & Disruption, respectively. However, whether a school reported any benefits had no effect on its history of scheduling the program. A significant correlation was found between student enrollment and a school’s experience with RBL. Schools that never implemented RBL had smaller student enrollments (p \u3c 0.01) and were significantly more likely to report any barriers (p \u3c 0.01), whereas schools currently utilizing the program that had a higher student enrollment (p \u3c 0.05) when compared to all other schools. Telephone interviewees reported the significance of gaining support from all involved parties and encouraged finding solutions to challenges prior to implementing the program