About the Department

"Enriching the lives of children, adults, and the elderly in our community and providing meaningful service, learning, and leadership experiences for Berea College students."
Students For Appalachia is a community service program at Berea College having over 30 labor positions, about 150 regular volunteers and over 100 volunteers for specific seasonal events. In SFA, you participate in a challenging community, gain a leadership experience, perhaps rediscover what it means to grow. You apply classroom knowledge, learn about group dynamics, make a difference in someone's life. You get involved.

The program began in the mid-1960's as Campus Action For Mountain Progress (CAMP). In 1968 the federal Office of Economic Opportunity began providing funds through the Council of Southern Mountains. At that time the name was changed to Students for Appalachia and was a community development program designed to help people with the problems of daily life. In 1970 an adult education component was added. The program was called STABLE (Student Taught Adult Basic Literacy Effort). In 1972 the two programs merged and the name STABLE was dropped in 1976. Both programs completed their federal support in 1973 and since that time SFA has been funded primarily by Berea College and a few small state and federal grants.

While both programs initially worked in four nearby counties, under Berea College the focus has been Madison and Berea, where the program is located.