Return to story

A girl in need: Will you help?

April 15, 2007 12:36 am

AS A SENIOR, my time at the Univer- sity of Mary Washington is drawing to a close. But it will not be over until I can go back to Honduras and tell 10-year-old Carmen that I kept my promise. My last semester in college is dedicated to Carmen and all the kids of Siete de Abril.

I met Carmen this past winter during my ninth journey to the refugee village in Honduras. She gave me oranges and drew pictures of her family for me. I noticed that she had only one shirt, a blue tank top with Clifford on it.

She worked all day selling oranges to help feed her three younger siblings while her parents were away looking for a job in the city. She never stopped smiling and always greeted us with hugs.

But the day before we left Honduras, I saw tears rolling down her cheeks. Carmen gave me a big hug and told me she had been homeless since Hurricane Mitch tore through her town nine years ago. Since then, she has been dreaming that one day her family and her friends in the village will have real homes.

And all she asks for is a tin roof, cinder-block walls, a small bed, and a blanket. Nothing else.

Tonight will be no different from last night in the second-poorest country in the Western Hemisphere; Carmen will be sleeping on the dirt floor with her siblings, hiding underneath a trash bag to avoid the rainwater.

I promised Carmen from the bottom of my heart that I would do whatever it takes to make her dream come true. Today, I am facing the biggest challenge of my life: Approximately $200,000 is needed to build homes for all 72 families, at about $2,800 each.

I began helping children in Honduras two years ago. I spent days washing dishes at the school cafeteria and collecting spare change to raise money for the kids. I was all alone, and bit my lips every time someone turned down a flier or collection jar.

But today, I am no longer fighting this battle by myself. Last year, my sister Cosmo and I founded Students Helping Honduras, a college-based nonprofit, which has spread to four different universities already.

Last year, SHH united hundreds of students to bring stability to a failing orphanage called Copprome. This year, thousands of students from all over Virginia will mobilize to help Carmen and her village.

Car washes, bake sales, yard sales, benefit concerts, pancake breakfasts--you name it--SHH members from different universities and high schools have been on top of it. They have written letters and e-mails, and have gone door-to-door seeking sponsors for the upcoming Walkathon of Hope.

A hard-fought $20,000 grant in late March from the Grablife Givelife online contest was a huge boost. I have given 40 speeches in the past four weeks at churches, on campus, and in civic organizations asking for help.

And our latest count: $59,000. Not nearly enough.

However, just recently, Doris Buffett of the Sunshine Lady Foundation gave us an unparalleled opportunity by offering to double our amount to $200,000--if we can raise $100,000.

The Walkathon for Hope, scheduled to be held at the UMW campus on Saturday, April 21, from 1:30 to 5 p.m., is our last and only chance. I cordially invite anyone of all ages and backgrounds to come out to the 5-mile hike that begins on campus walk. Participants are asked to seek donations from sponsors.

Any group or individual that raises $1,400 will have a home named after them. There will be free food, free BBQ, live bands, free drinks, raffle prizes, and free massages. For three hours that day, thousands of people will be leaving behind their differences to help the kids.

Our goal is to raise the remaining $41,000.

We are currently accepting tax-deductible checks written out to "CCC-Village Fund" at 1213 Dandrige, Fredericksburg, Va. 22401.

If we can unite the community here, we can rebuild a community in a place as far away as Honduras. Will you join us in this worthwhile effort?

For more information, visit studentshelpinghonduras.org