Michelle Meszaros, a business administration/entrepreneurial studies major isn’t waiting for graduation this May to get started on her mission to promote economic development and cultural enrichment.

Last month, she returned from an ecotourism trip to Costa Rica as a part of College of Business Administration’s (CBA) business/science concentration. She traveled to the cities of San Jose, Chilamate, Arenal and Jaco/Playa Hermosa with Drs. Susan Denbo, Kathleen Browne, Cynthia Newman, Jonathan Husch and a group of Rider students to learn how biodiversity can create and sustain economic development. According to Meszaros, the local guide echoed her long held belief that “the impact of our actions is felt by everyone, because we all live in one house.”

Meszaro’s “house” is built upon a strong faith and the encouragement of her church, Fountain of Life in Burlington County, which supports many missionaries in their efforts to help the oppressed. She was inspired by the stories shared from each missionary and a scripture which discusses the meaning of righteous living that stems from wholehearted commitment such as helping others in need.

Her goal is to start a relief non – profit organization to serve people in less developed countries. Toward that end, she began in earnest last semester, when she arranged for products made by artisans struggling to support themselves, to be brought to campus. Meszaros learned of the product line, which includes home accents, handbags, belts and assorted jewelry, as a result of her summer missionary work in Peru, through Rider’s global internship program. She worked with a Canadian missionary based in Lima, Peru who needed assistance with language translation and teaching students from elementary through high school.

“The items reflect and reinforce rich cultural traditions that encourage North Americans to appreciate diversity,” said Meszaros, whose mother hails from Peru. “The proceeds will assist in economic development and ministry support as well as developing a long-standing relationship with the artisans in order to provide a steady income for them.”

Meszaros maintains that Rider has given her a “wealth of opportunities” for real world experiences she can learn from and apply to future endeavors. “All of my professors have been great and through my independent studies I have come across very special and helpful people such as Drs. Radha Chaganti and Ron Cook; Don Brown, from the Center for Multicultural Affairs and Community Service, Queen Jones and Sally Martinez from the Student Support Services Program (SSS) and the entire College of Continuing Studies (CCS) staff . My Resident Advisor team has also been tremendously supportive of my efforts, especially Poyda Hall and my Resident Director, Sarah Toben.

Supporting ministry and economic development is more than a goal for Meszaros; it is a “calling.” “I want to create value and build treasures that will last beyond what I can see and touch because whatever is provided here on earth is only temporary,” she said. “Sharing the message of salvation gives hope that there is so much more than what is before us.”

Meszaro’s line of products from Latin American artisans are available via her eBay store site at: http://stores.ebay.com/unacasa. She welcomes everyone’s support. She looks forward to expanding programs that foster economic development and global diversity and would welcome the opportunity to work with like-minded individuals.

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