DATE: October 08, 2007

CONTACT: Angela Eckhoff, (864) 656-1322
eckhoff@clemson.edu

WRITER: Ross Norton, (864) 656-4810
rnorton@clemson.edu

'Beatrice's Goat' teaches sustainability lesson to public and educators

CLEMSON — It doesn’t always take much to make a difference. For Beatrice Biira, it took a small goat. The Ugandan will take her message of sustainability and hope to teachers, future teachers and even some elementary school children Wednesday and Thursday when she visits Clemson University.

Heiffer International gave a goat to Biira’s impoverished family in a small African village when she was 9 years old and longed for a chance to attend school. The goat provided enough milk for the family and some extra to sell, enabling Biira to attend a local school, which led to a scholarship to a New England prep school and now enrollment at Connecticut College. Her story is told and illustrated in a children’s book called “Beatrice’s Goat.”

Biira’s visit to Clemson is part of the university’s participation in Focus the Nation, a program dedicated to finding global-warming solutions for America. In addition to her visit with educators, Biira will deliver a personal perspective about sustainability issues in Uganda at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Jim Self Auditorium of the Strom Thurmond Institute. That address is open to the public.

Biira will meet with faculty and students from the Eugene T. Moore School of Education for a lecture at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Palmetto Ballroom at Clemson’s University Union. About 100 Clemson seniors in elementary education will take the book to the schools where they are student teaching. The elementary school teachers working with those student teachers also are invited to the event.

One goal is to use the book to teach sustainability principles to elementary students, according to Angela Eckhoff, assistant professor of early childhood education and an organizer of Biira’s visit.

“We’re using this book as a jumping-off point to teach sustainability,” Eckhoff said. “Our goal is to help young learners understand the importance that they play in creating a future with a healthy environment and a strong economy.”

The Clemson visit is the first of its kind for Biira, who has appeared on CBS’ "60 Minutes" and " The Oprah Winfrey Show."

“Beatrice’s Goat,” written by Page McBrier and illustrated by Lori Lohstoeter, is widely available in bookstores and online.