Rachel Brunner is the Campus Representative for the University of Missouri, one of the 30 campuses around the country that are joining together their gifts and passions to bring real change to our projects in Africa. Learn more about the Campus Rep program here.

Rachel Brunner

International development has been heavy on my heart all semester, as I have taken environmental geography, international agricultural development, and agricultural and rural policy classes. Being a Mocha Club Campus Rep has allowed me to apply my newfound knowledge to actual people, projects and situations in Africa and to compare what I’ve learned about successful development of less developed countries with what the Mocha Club is doing right now, every day, in Africa. I’m so glad to be a part of an organization that is doing such an incredible job using donations to directly fund projects in Africa, assessing the effectiveness of their projects on a regular basis, and empowering, forming relationships with and educating Africans through their projects.

The opportunity to be a Mocha Club Campus Rep has taught me so many things and encouraged me in so many ways this semester! The Mocha Club staff’s contagious excitement and passion for people in Africa has lead me to tell more people, learn more about the situations in Africa, and appreciate the transparency of the organization. I have loved telling people about the Mocha Club over the last several months, especially when they get just as excited as I did when I found out how much people can gain as a result of giving up a movie ticket, an ice cream sundae, a meal out, or a new album each month! I hope that through involvement with the Mocha Club, others can get the movement for international development rolling by sharing their excitement with friends, family, and the stranger you sit next to on the bus every day. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the semester, it’s that people are good and if you can humble yourself and show them your passion for Africans, then they, too, will be capable of “redefining the coffee break!”