Williams Students Explore Ways to Help Haiti
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — At Williams College shortly after the media reported that a monster earthquake had ravaged Haiti, students emailed each other, conveying their desire to help:"We have to do something," "We could raise funds with a dinner," "I would be happy to do anything and everything."
A number of students have been face-to-face with individuals devastated by a natural disaster, working as volunteers in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina unleashed its fury on the city. This will be the fourth year students go to New Orleans. On earlier trips, they gutted houses and rebuilt homes. Activities changed as needs changed over time.
During summer, Winter Study period and Spring Break, student volunteers have come to the aid of people all over the world.
Motivated by news of homeless, injured and hungry survivors of the quake seeking food and water in Haiti, a student initiated a brain-storming session.
"We're trying to create a project for Haiti similar to the one in New Orleans," said Stewart Burns, coordinator of community engagement. "But it’s too soon to send students to Haiti."
Burns has come up with ideas for a 2011 Spring Break trip to Haiti.
"Some projects we want to undertake in Haiti might meld with the college curriculum under Experiential Education," Burns said, referring to a program where students "learn by doing" outside the Williams classroom.
Williams students, however, will not ignore the plight of victims of the quake until Spring 2011 rolls around.
The topic of an Open Community Meeting, facilitated by Burns and co-facilitated by senior Janya Clyde, held on Monday, Jan. 18, was Williams' involvement in Haiti relief efforts.
"It was successful," Burns said of the meeting attended by about 80 Williams students, faculty and staff plus a few people from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and the regional community. Participants created several committees to pursue further action and organize Haiti relief efforts.
The college created a website that provides updates on the outreach happening at Williams and in Haiti.
As chair of the college's service trip/long-term project, Burns believes the key thing is to create an ongoing relationship with organizations already in Haiti, such as Partners in Health.
There have been reports that Haitians are worried they will be left on their own, and Burns sees this as an opportunity "to plant seeds of hope and trust."
Student have coordinated committees including Collection Cans/Community Outreach, Online Fundraiser/Web site, Haiti Plunge and Relief Kits, Dinner Meal Points, Haiti Awareness and Education, and Jamboree.
In order to help the people of Haiti, the long-standing rivalry between Williams and Amherst is being channeled into a constructive humanitarian outlet. The two campuses will compete in a fundraising challenge that will culminate on Feb. 12 at Amherst where, at the end of a basketball game, the amount of money each school raised for Haiti relief will be compared.
For Williams, this amount will include what is raised at a Feb. 12 community dinner held at the Congregational Church on Main Street. Tickets are $10 at the door and $8 if purchased in advance. First seating is from 5 to 6:30, and the second seating is from 6:45 to 8. Valentine's gifts also will be be sold at the community dinner: chocolate truffles, brownies and cookies, ranging in price from $5 to $7.
The proceeds of a Feb. 9 clothing sale will be divided equally between Haiti Relief and 5Cee, a nonprofit organization supporting the building of a school in Ampteo, Ghana.
The Jamboree fundraising event will be a showcase of talent from Williams College and the Williamstown community. Because there are many student performance groups on campus, it may be a two-part event, splitting days between various groups. The first event is scheduled to take place the end of February.
"Our hope for the Jamboree is that it will be a successful fundraiser and will also provide information to raise awareness about the issues that exist in Haiti, not simply as a result of the recent earthquake, but are longstanding and are now worsened," said Janya Clyde, coordinator of Jamboree.
"We hope to raise awareness and activism on Williams College campus, Clyde added.
"We have a great number of resources here and we should do all we can to help."
