MAKING DIFFERENCE

Wcu

HONORS STUDENTS RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

story by Jesse Piersol

For many students at West Chester University, adult life unfurls in a certain way during these formative college years in a place like the borough, with its charming architecture, beautiful campus, and well-trodden paths between campus and iconic Thursday night hotspots downtown. WCU student Grace Nicholas loves it here. “It’s a big school, but it feels small. The campus is compact. I still see people I recognize every day, and I say hi,” she exudes. “I love the town. There is so much to do.”

Nestled within this idyllic setting, it can be easy for students to ignore the challenges faced by people living halfway around the world. But for students in WCU Honors College such as Grace, it is the perfect time to connect with others and share their bounty.

Grace is Assistant Director of Aid to South Africa, a student-run organization through the Honors College that raises funds for three separate organizations in South Africa. A Nursing major headed for graduation in 2024, she envisions her life after WCU as a nurse in a hos- pital emergency room somewhere between here and Philly. nership between the Honors College and the people of South Africa in the summer of 2001. The WCU website describes how that year, “27 students from around the state participated in a two-week international program that conducted oral histories of current South African college students, men, and women once on the forefront of change from Apartheid to Democracy.” Since then, Aid to South Africa has expanded on campus and in the community, hosting events, increasing awareness, and raising funds. “Over the last 18 years, we have fundraised over $100,000 for our beneficiaries,” states junior Biomedical Engineering Major and Aid to South Africa Coordinator Jessica Mitchell.

She got involved with Aid to South Africa as a first-year student in the Fall of 2020 and almost immediately found herself as Student Outreach Director, working to connect Aid to South Africa to other groups on campus as well as in the greater West Chester community. Today, as Assistant Director, Grace kickstarts events and recruits others, while planning meetings and generally getting the word out.

The Carnival

Past WCU President Madeline Wing Adler and a handful of educators launched the Aid to South Africa part-

Fundraising efforts for the year culminate with the annual carnival in the spring. “Our goal for the day is $12,000,” says Grace. “We slowly make money all year, and then the carnival is our last hurrah.” Afterwards, the year’s earnings are disbursed among the three benefi- ciary organizations in South Africa.

This year, the carnival is on April 16 from noon to 4pm on WCU’s Academic Quad, featuring games and activities for all ages. Numerous clubs perform on a central stage throughout the day. Last year, Grace was enamored with the swing dance club’s performance. “You could tell that they worked really hard!” she says. “They’ll be coming back again this year.” WCU’s a cappella groups, Under A Rest and High Street Harmonix, will be performing, along with individual talent acts. The dunk tank, featuring students, frats, and even faculty members, is always a big draw. There will also be raffle baskets from businesses such as Playa Bowls and Philly Pretzel Factory, along with gift cards to local boutiques.

It’s not just all fun and games— attendees will also be able to grow their knowledge. “There is a whole portion on cultural insight into South Africa,” says Grace. One of the organization’s goals is to bring awareness to and correct erroneous perceptions. “Many people think that technology is advanced there and assume that Apartheid has been over for 30 years,” Grace explains. “We like to bring light to post-Apartheid South Africa.”

The Beneficiaries

Three separate organizations benefit from Aid to South Africa’s fundraising efforts.

One is Nkosi's Haven, a non-governmental organization located in Johannesburg that provides care for HIV/AIDS infected mothers, their children, and children made orphans by AIDS. The United Nations states that in 2020, almost 8 million adults and children were living with HIV in South Africa. WCU’s website describes the mission of Nkosi’s Haven “to continuously work to create an energetic environment for those impacted by HIV and AIDS by building upon facilities and services offered.”

Another organization is the H.E.L.P. Ministries Soup Kitchen. Reverend Cecil Begbie started the soup kitchen to feed hungry school kids. “When he was just getting started, he asked the schools around him to provide a list of children in desperate need of food,” states WCU’s website. “The principals responded with their entire attendance roll.” Today, Cecil’s team prepares 6,000 bowls of soup daily in his own garage, delivering them to nine primary schools and 1,000 unemployed adults. For many, this is their only daily meal.

The third organization is Mosaic, whose mission is to support foster mothers caring for orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa. With the help of donations, Mosaic assists their families with job creation and training, housing, education, and more.

Changes For All

Aid to South Africa has spurred community connections within WCU’s campus. Grace has noticed that in the last two years, due to the pandemic subsiding, people seem more motivated to help. “Even members of the broader WCU community, and not just the Honors program, come to the Honors meetings and Aid to South Africa meetings,” she relates. “We’ve had a huge increase in student and community support, and that helps get fundraising up and going.”

They are changing the community beyond WCU, too. Twice a year, beginning in March, the Aid to South Africa group collects donations at the corner of Market and High streets. “We hold signs that say things like ‘$5 can feed a family for a week,’” Grace says. “And that really gets to people.”

In May, a group of Honors students will be traveling to South Africa for the first time in four years. They will be sightseeing during their 10-day visit, but they’ll also be meeting the beneficiaries, to see who they are helping with their work. “We work with them all year and raise money,” Grace says. “This trip will break it down so we can see how it really helps the community in South Africa.”

Not surprisingly, the changes are personal as well. “We’re contributing to something bigger than ourselves, and using our privilege to help others,” says Grace. “It’s caused me to stop and think before I speak. We complain about little things, but we need to step back and see the bigger picture. I write things down that I’m grateful for. People think I’m crazy that I write down that I’m grateful to have central heating.”

“It gave me a much bigger sense of community,” she muses. “It feels good to help.”

WANT TO HELP?

Follow Aid to South Africa on Instragram: @aidtosouthafrica

Come to the carnival: April 16th from 12-4pm on WCU’s Academic Quad

Make a donation: mosaicsa.app.neoncrm.com/forms/15

Becca Boyd shares tips on life and cooking on her blog at homebeccanomics.com