Appalachian students took a trip to Malawi, Africa over winter break. Photo Courtesy of Whitney Howard

While some students spent their last few days of winter break at home with their families or on vacation, it was a different story for 11 students from the Walker College of Business.

The students were enrolled in "Business & Society in Malawi: Sustainability in the Developing World," a course taught by Professor of Business Martin Meznar. Along with Meznar, they took a class trip to Malawi, Africa from Jan. 1 to Jan. 16.

For many - including senior political science major Ryn MacArthur - the reality of the trip differed from their expectations.

"When I went from App State to Malawi, I was expecting very rural, a lot of disease and a lot of hunger," MacArthur said. "The capital had tons of people driving cars, which I was not expecting."

Before the trip, each member of the class read William Kamkwamba's memoir, "The Boy who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope." The book is the story of Kamkwamba's quest to bring wind energy to his home country of Malawi.

While in Malawi, the students visited Kamkwamba's village and met with his uncle.

"I didn't know anything about Malawi until I read the book," MacArthur said. "That was where I learned about their culture and whatnot. And it was when I went to the Mchezi village and the capital that all of it became very tangible for me."

Now, inspired by their time in Africa, the students are making several attempts to bring what they've learned back to the Appalachian community.

First, the group hopes to make Kamkwamba's book selected the 2013 summer reading selection, senior marketing major Whitney Howard said.

"It will take time, but we definitely will work on trying to get the book selected and raising awareness for Malawi," Howard said.

The group is also in the process of creating a business plan for a community-based organization in Mchezi, along with a maize mill where one of Malawi's major crops can be processed into flour.

The students are hopeful about the potential for each of their ongoing projects.

"There is no doubt in our minds that this can happen," senior management major Ethan Herman said.

And for many, Malawi is still at the forefront of their minds - even after their return to the United States.

"One of the greatest things that we can do is love and show compassion for one another," Howard said. "We are looking to make a difference. Malawi is that difference."

Story: CASEY SUGLIA, Lifestyles Reporter