Concordia grad influences the affairs of the world
Recently back from Masindi, Uganda, Concordia graduate and dietetic intern Amanda Beadell is doing what the school’s mission statement emphasizes for its students; to influence the affairs of the world. While in Uganda, Beadell taught people about nutrition and the prevention of AIDS/HIV with Missions Made Possible, a non-profit organization based in the Twin Cities and through Lutheran Church Mission Uganda.
Beadell graduated in 2008, majoring in nutrition and exercise science. She is currently doing an 11-month internship through Concordia and once she is finished, will be eligible to take her RD exam, which will allow her to be a registered dietician.
The trip to Uganda is something that Beadell will never forget, not only because of the fact that she made a difference in other peoples’ lives, but also because of the people themselves.
“We arrived in a village at 10:30 p.m.. There were no lights there so people are usually sleeping by then,” Beadell said. “But when we got off the bus, there were twenty to thirty people there cheering and yelling for us. It was really great to see how appreciative they all were.”
There was a time while Beadell was in Uganda where she was helping give out free medical and eye examinations. Some people would travel for days to get a free exam, which was often hard to handle.
“We had to shut the gates eventually, because if we didn’t, we would have been there for days,” she said. “It was pretty heart breaking to not be able to help all those people who traveled so far to come and see us.”
Beadell remembers one little girl in particular who has a mental disability and was severely malnourished. The girl weighed about 25 pounds, which is an average weight for a one-year-old there.
“It was really hard to know that I’m leaving these people who have no resources to come home to where I live,” Beadell said. “They would be astonished to even see a television and that all made me feel really guilty.”
After experiencing such a moving time in Uganda, Beadell is determined to go back once she is a registered dietician. By teaching proper nutrition, Beadell is helping reduce chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. These are all things that can be fatal if not looked after properly.
Beadell has spoken to several groups in the Fargo-Moorhead area about her trip to Uganda and what she recommends for nutritional guidelines.
Sabrina Whiting, Concordia dining services marketing supervisor, worked with Beadell during her time at Concordia. Whiting was pleased that Beadell had such an enriching experience.
“Traveling to Uganda was a great opportunity for Amanda. She was able to enhance her dietetic internship experience by teaching nutrition to people who know little about it,
she said. “She was a great representative of Concordia and dining services.”
