Nearly 55,000 orphans have been made after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the country of Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010. Responding to the devastation will be a group of students from Moorpark College, led by campus professor Sandra Hunter.
“One of the pros of this particular trip is to look at potential for channeling students into careers that have not only to do with non-profit or non-governmental organizations and work in several countries,” said English professor Sandra Hunter.
Hunter said she put the trip together with the two classes she is teaching and has a door open for any student who wants to join her on this once in a lifetime experience.
The group of students will accompany Hunter to embark on a constructive journey to visit Haiti and offer their efforts to a cause that will not only benefit the people of Haiti, but the professor and her group of students.
The group will be working with Greg Barshaw, the head of a charity in Haiti that is setting up two orphanages for victims who need a home.
“[Barshaw] is doing something really creative and giving these kids a chance to actually make a life of themselves and make a living for themselves as well,” said Hunter.
Geoffrey Bochicchio, a 21-year-old, art major at MC, said that the expedition will be an opportunity for him to help people in need, rather than a chance for him to spend time leisurely.
“I have never really dealt with or worked with people who are so under privileged-that they don’t even have a clean source of water, so what I would be taking home with me is the experience of what the people in Haiti are going through right now,” said Bochicchio.
Danielle Salinas, a cultural anthropology major, said that she has done missionary work in the past and through it all, found a huge passion for helping children.
“When I first heard about the trip, I felt like it fell on my lap and it was something that I have been looking for,” said Salinas “I really want to experience something out of my own bubble and see what else I can do for this world.”
Salinas is most excited about gaining a new perspective from life and build new experiences she can bring back home. After selling her car and saving up for a new one, she devoted all her money to financing the Haiti trip.
“It was either I get a car, or I can go on this trip, half way around the world, to experience something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” said Salinas.
When natural disasters of this magnitude occur, several factors quickly become issues. Hundreds of starving people are going to abandon their home to seek better shelter and sustenance.
What Barshaw wants to do, is redistribute aid to the villages where the afflicted natives came from through the churches and everywhere else to help form a community again.
“I would really like to see this as a career option for students,” said Hunter. “Let’s bring the community back to Haiti and at the same time let’s bring the community into the community college.”
If you would like more information on the trip to Haiti, e-mail Sandra Hunter at [email protected].
