2008 Woodie Awards
Service project provides housing for children
By Kerry Barth
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Features
A group of eight West Chester University students are currently conducting the Ashraya Initiative, a service learning project that caters to housing street children internationally.
This semester, these students are working towards becoming an official student group on campus, one of many goals in this project. Currently, they are working with Professor Douglass McConatha's introduction to sociology class, in a valiant effort to fundraise, raise awareness and visit with various universities to inform them about this initiative, as well as raise donations.
For those reading who are not familiar with the Ashraya Initative for Children, AIC, it is a good cause whose members are dedicated to bettering the lives of children in need.
Ashraya is a Hindi word meaning "hope," "trust," "shelter" and "protection." The initiative was originally conceived in 2004 by seven college students from different parts of the world. Since 2004, AIC has successfully expanded and now includes six branches located in the United States, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Austria and India.
The WCU student members include Erin McShea, Stephanie McDuffy, Stephanie Behan, Tina Johnson, Sara Gothelf, Thad Toole, Nemadia Knuckles and Amy Meachum. After working in groups last semester in McConatha's class, they wanted to continue their work this semester.
"We're all invested in this project, because it does so much for children in need," McShea said. "It's rare that you find a chance to take a class like this, where your time and effort really pays off and puts something positive out into the world. It's great to feel like our hard work is really worth it and is helping someone else who doesn't have the same luxuries we do."
Last semester, the group raised about $ 1,000 and collected boxes of clothing and toys that were sent to India. The social problems class raised money through fundraisers such as bake sales and raffles held in the Sykes Student Union building. Donation boxes were located in the dorms, where the reception was overwhelming and resulted in mounting piles of clothing, books and toys alike.
This semester, these students are working towards becoming an official student group on campus, one of many goals in this project. Currently, they are working with Professor Douglass McConatha's introduction to sociology class, in a valiant effort to fundraise, raise awareness and visit with various universities to inform them about this initiative, as well as raise donations.
For those reading who are not familiar with the Ashraya Initative for Children, AIC, it is a good cause whose members are dedicated to bettering the lives of children in need.
Ashraya is a Hindi word meaning "hope," "trust," "shelter" and "protection." The initiative was originally conceived in 2004 by seven college students from different parts of the world. Since 2004, AIC has successfully expanded and now includes six branches located in the United States, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Austria and India.
The WCU student members include Erin McShea, Stephanie McDuffy, Stephanie Behan, Tina Johnson, Sara Gothelf, Thad Toole, Nemadia Knuckles and Amy Meachum. After working in groups last semester in McConatha's class, they wanted to continue their work this semester.
"We're all invested in this project, because it does so much for children in need," McShea said. "It's rare that you find a chance to take a class like this, where your time and effort really pays off and puts something positive out into the world. It's great to feel like our hard work is really worth it and is helping someone else who doesn't have the same luxuries we do."
Last semester, the group raised about $ 1,000 and collected boxes of clothing and toys that were sent to India. The social problems class raised money through fundraisers such as bake sales and raffles held in the Sykes Student Union building. Donation boxes were located in the dorms, where the reception was overwhelming and resulted in mounting piles of clothing, books and toys alike.
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