The Periclean Scholars Class of 2027 spent their spring semester hard at work assisting their local and international partners
Over the course of the spring semester, the members of the Periclean Scholars Class of 2027 have worked to support both local and international partners through fundraising, community engagement, and sustainable development initiatives.
In Alamance County, the class raised funds for the Al-Aqsa Clinic’s emergency fund, hosted by the Burlington Masjid. Throughout the semester, the scholars organized several restaurant profit-sharing events and other fundraising efforts, generating more than $1,000 in donations. These funds will help the clinic purchase food and personal care items for its Halal food pantry.
The scholars have also continued their partnership with Sarvodaya — Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest non-governmental organization — to promote sustainable and equitable development in rural communities. Working alongside Sarvodaya staff, the students are helping expand consumer markets for locally produced trade goods. Later this summer, a group of scholars will travel to Sri Lanka to continue this work in the country’s south and east, focusing on creating new market opportunities for producers in areas frequently visited by foreign tourists.
The Periclean Scholars Program is a three-year, cohort-based learning experience centered on building mutually beneficial partnerships both locally and globally. As the centerpiece of Project Pericles, the program is dedicated to advancing civic engagement and social responsibility across the university community while also fostering close, supportive relationships among cohort members and faculty mentors.
Undergraduate students may apply to the program during their first year at Elon. Selected students complete a sequence of academic courses during their sophomore, junior, and senior years, totaling 18 semester hours. The experience culminates in the development of a social justice-focused partnership designed and implemented by the student cohort under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Past and current partnerships have included supporting equitable and sustainable community tourism initiatives in Sri Lanka, producing a documentary focused on lived experiences in Cuba, collaborating with leaders on the Pine Ridge Reservation to strengthen communication and advertising efforts, and partnering with a local organization in Ghana to promote youth leadership and development.
To learn more about the Al-Aqsa clinic and Sarvodaya, visit: https://www.al-aqsaclinic.org/ and https://www.sarvodaya.org/