Hamilton College Employees Organize Dec. 16 Event
Contact: Vige Barrie
Phone: (315) 859-4623
December 10, 2007
Hamilton College News (New York, USA)
A community holiday concert and bake sale to raise contributions to build a school in Cambodia will be held on Sunday, Dec. 16, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Kirkland Art Center. Organized primarily by Hamilton employees, the concert will include a sing-a-long and is free and open to the public.
The Cambodian school building project began in a sophomore seminar a year ago. Last December, adjunct professor Chris Willemsen, who was teaching Democracy, Ethics, and Globalization with philosophy professor Rick Werner, read a New York Times opinion column titled "Fighting Brothels with Books." Twelve months later, Willemsen and a small group of Hamilton employees and other local community members are on the verge of funding the proposed school for Cambodian children.
Although the opinion piece caught their attention, it was their students' presentations on human trafficking and the ensuing class discussions that inspired Willemsen and Werner to undertake the building fund project.
"Like many in the class, the topic of human trafficking left me with a feeling of helplessness and horror," said Willemsen. "It's very difficult for governments to stop human trafficking (even if they have the will to do so), because these networks, like so many organized crime groups, are nimble, difficult to track and adept at co-opting local officials. And unfortunately, it's hard to pull people out of prostitution and slavery once they are trafficked. Following the logic of the Times' column, the school project seemed like a small way we might be able to make a difference."
A core group of volunteers that included Willemsen and Werner as well as Associate Dean of Students Carol Drogus, government professor Steve Orvis, Director of the Career Center Kino Ruth and Helen Werner began the work of raising the necessary $13,000 to fund a school. They have raised more than $10,000, enough to allow ground-breaking to begin. Projects have included many community endeavors including bake sales, bike rides and a garage sale.
Since many of the group's members are musically inclined, a holiday concert seemed to offer another fundraising opportunity. Although admission will be free, the group has high hopes that attendees will make generous end-of-year contributions to the project. A bake sale will also be held at 4 p.m. before the event.
Concert performers include Amy James from the Dean of Students office, her husband Bob Ford, David and Leslie Bell from career services, Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Student Activities Director Lisa Magnarelli, Chaplain Jeff McArn and Dean of Students Nancy Thompson and her husband Mark. The Clinton High School Select Choir and a local string ensemble will also perform. There will be several opportunities for the audience to join in the singing of well known holiday songs.
Ten thousand dollars of the $13,000 will go to building the school. These funds are matched by the Asian Development Bank. The rest of the money will be used for operating costs. Once built and funded, the school will be donated to the village and recognized as a state school. The group has the option of raising an additional $30,000 for Internet connections, a victory vegetable garden, a school nurse and other services. A non-profit organization called American Assistance for Cambodia facilitates the process.
Construction is scheduled to begin in January, and it should take three to four months to build the school. The donor is invited to the ribbon cutting ceremony, and a few of the Hamilton volunteers hope to go to Cambodia, attend the ceremony and meet the children and the teachers.
More information may be found at www.cambodiaschools.com
Contact: Vige Barrie
Phone: (315) 859-4623
December 10, 2007
Hamilton College News (New York, USA)
A community holiday concert and bake sale to raise contributions to build a school in Cambodia will be held on Sunday, Dec. 16, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Kirkland Art Center. Organized primarily by Hamilton employees, the concert will include a sing-a-long and is free and open to the public.
The Cambodian school building project began in a sophomore seminar a year ago. Last December, adjunct professor Chris Willemsen, who was teaching Democracy, Ethics, and Globalization with philosophy professor Rick Werner, read a New York Times opinion column titled "Fighting Brothels with Books." Twelve months later, Willemsen and a small group of Hamilton employees and other local community members are on the verge of funding the proposed school for Cambodian children.
Although the opinion piece caught their attention, it was their students' presentations on human trafficking and the ensuing class discussions that inspired Willemsen and Werner to undertake the building fund project.
"Like many in the class, the topic of human trafficking left me with a feeling of helplessness and horror," said Willemsen. "It's very difficult for governments to stop human trafficking (even if they have the will to do so), because these networks, like so many organized crime groups, are nimble, difficult to track and adept at co-opting local officials. And unfortunately, it's hard to pull people out of prostitution and slavery once they are trafficked. Following the logic of the Times' column, the school project seemed like a small way we might be able to make a difference."
A core group of volunteers that included Willemsen and Werner as well as Associate Dean of Students Carol Drogus, government professor Steve Orvis, Director of the Career Center Kino Ruth and Helen Werner began the work of raising the necessary $13,000 to fund a school. They have raised more than $10,000, enough to allow ground-breaking to begin. Projects have included many community endeavors including bake sales, bike rides and a garage sale.
Since many of the group's members are musically inclined, a holiday concert seemed to offer another fundraising opportunity. Although admission will be free, the group has high hopes that attendees will make generous end-of-year contributions to the project. A bake sale will also be held at 4 p.m. before the event.
Concert performers include Amy James from the Dean of Students office, her husband Bob Ford, David and Leslie Bell from career services, Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Student Activities Director Lisa Magnarelli, Chaplain Jeff McArn and Dean of Students Nancy Thompson and her husband Mark. The Clinton High School Select Choir and a local string ensemble will also perform. There will be several opportunities for the audience to join in the singing of well known holiday songs.
Ten thousand dollars of the $13,000 will go to building the school. These funds are matched by the Asian Development Bank. The rest of the money will be used for operating costs. Once built and funded, the school will be donated to the village and recognized as a state school. The group has the option of raising an additional $30,000 for Internet connections, a victory vegetable garden, a school nurse and other services. A non-profit organization called American Assistance for Cambodia facilitates the process.
Construction is scheduled to begin in January, and it should take three to four months to build the school. The donor is invited to the ribbon cutting ceremony, and a few of the Hamilton volunteers hope to go to Cambodia, attend the ceremony and meet the children and the teachers.
More information may be found at www.cambodiaschools.com
2 comments:
"ANANIKUM AMERICA RULES!"
School is not our problem. Getting people to learn is.
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