UPEI International Charity Club spreading the love
Robyn Christensen, a fourth-year science student at UPEI, went on a trip to Uganda last year that forever changed her. Since that trip, Robyn created and leads UPEI's International Charity Club, a group dedicated to helping the less fortunate in third world countries.
This May, the club will embark on a three-week journey to Uganda with the Watoto program, a holistic care initiative that helps orphaned children and vulnerable women in Uganda. The club will work on various infrastructural projects in order to better the quality of life for infants living in African baby homes. They will also be responsible for bathing, feeding, and most importantly, loving these children.
Christensen recalls the thin, tiny children, sitting on the sidewalks in the African country, and describes their eyes as 'lifeless' with 'every last vestige of hope and idealism drained from them.' She believes that it is people from her generation, and from Canada, that will make an impact on the world. 'This club is as much about helping the less fortunate as it is about educating UPEI students to appreciate their wealth, and make poverty a concern, so that they too can be a part of the solution.'
February is a time of fundraising for the club. Valentine's Day (February 14) events include a bake sale from 11:00 am-2:30 pm in the Robertson Library as well as a 'Spread the Love' musical event at the Dunk in Breadalbane at 7:30 pm. On February 28, the club will show a film screening in conjunction with Invisible Children (http://www2.invisiblechildren.com/) at 7:00 pm in McDougall Hall, room 242. The club will host a musical event on February 29 from 8:00-11:00 pm in McMillan Hall, at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre, with musical talents, Meaghan Blanchard, Colour Code, and Bad Habits.
The group also has an ongoing 'Loonie for Love' campaign, where they seek one loonie from every Islander. The team's great sense of humour and passion to raise funds is demonstrated as they roam campus and PEI dressed up in loon costumes to secure loonies from locals.
UPEI's International Charity Club consists of approximately 13 student members, seven of whom will travel together to Uganda. Those traveling to Africa include: Robyn Christensen, Jenny Vessey, Christen Vessey, Kristyn MacKenzie, Lucas MacArthur, Sarah-Lynn Boyle, and Ryan Gallant.
The group has raised $7,500 so far and hopes to raise an additional $10,500 before May.
For more information on the events and how you can help out, http://www.indiegogo.com/UPEI-Goes-to-Africa or contact Robyn at (902) 394-5629 or rchristensen@upei.ca.
