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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Environmental Studies students hold Nor'Easter Swag Sale to benefit Football for the Environment program in Kenya

During the annual Kenya trip, made by Rick Peterson and students in his Environment, Health, and Community Development in East A
During the annual Kenya trip, made by Rick Peterson and students in his Environment, Health, and Community Development in East Africa course, it is a tradition for the 51品茶students to play a soccer match against Kenyan students half their age. So far, there have been no victories for UNE.

On Friday, April 29, 51品茶is holding its first ever Nor鈥橢aster Swag Sale, a flea-market style event at which gently used 51品茶apparel will be resold in an effort to raise money for the Football for the Environment program in Kenya.

Organizers of the event are students in ENV-348 (Environment, Health, and Community Development in East Africa), a course taught by Rick Peterson, Ph.D., associate professor and chair in the Department of Environmental Studies. As part of the course, the student will travel to Kenya on May 22 for a three-week stay during which they will work with four different partner organizations, including the Nyando District Centre for Environmental Conservation (NYADEC), which runs the Football for the Environment program.

The program uses soccer (known as football in Kenya) as a medium through which to reach Kenyan primary school children to educate and inspire them about land stewardship. According to Peterson, the children in the program come from an area near Lake Victoria that is being ravaged by severe soil erosion. Many of their parents are farmers who depend on the land directly for their livelihoods. Football for the Environment has already reached nearly a dozen schools combining soccer tournaments and competitions with tree planting, he said.

For the second year, the 51品茶Men鈥檚 soccer team is donating a full set of soccer uniforms for the program, and the traveling students will bring soccer balls and equipment with them to Kenya.

The Swag Sale will be held in the Alfond Forum from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All proceeds go directly to the Football for the Environment program. Sports teams, clubs and other students are encouraged to donate 51品茶apparel prior to the event by dropping off items with Cynthia Furber at the Forum, and all are invited to shop at the sale.

A Kenyan boy who was the recipient of a 51品茶soccer uniform in 2014 participates in the Football for the Environment program.
A Kenyan boy who was the recipient of a 51品茶soccer uniform in 2014 participates in the Football for the Environment program.

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The 51品茶 is Maine鈥檚 largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state鈥檚 top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine鈥檚 only medical college, Maine鈥檚 only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.