Reconstruction can help Haiti heal
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Although the Haitian earth quake has passed, sorrow and suffering lie in its residual wake. The responsibility of relief naturally falls to those unaffected by the devastation. Courtesy of IFRC
On March 9 a benefit concert will take place at the UVU Grand Ballroom in an effort to raise funds to support Haiti in the wake of disaster, which funds will be critical in its long road to recovery.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. and entertainment will begin at 6:30 p.m. The event will be hosted by the Utah Valley University Peace and Justice Studies Program. Participating bands, which will provide an eclectic variety of music include Cub’s World; UVU Humanities Professor Alex Caldiero, accompanied by Theta Naught; Pride Poetic; Wintermint; and the Elikya Dance Group.
The money that will be raised through ticket, crafts and food sales will be donated directly to the Haiti Relief Fund which was established by Peace and Justice Studies Director Michael Minch. The Peace and Justice Studies efforts do not end at the benefit concert, however.
The department is also working with local doctors and hospitals to collect much-needed medical supplies, in addition to sending UVU students and faculty to Haiti this summer. The students and faculty traveling to Haiti will be working with a number of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) as well as government agencies doing humanitarian and peace-building work.
The goal of the trip is not only to ease the suffering that resulted from the earthquake, but to participate in the reconstruction of Haiti’s future. International cooperation and foreign financial aid will be desperately needed in order to help the Haitian people get back on their feet.
The UVU Peace and Justice Studies Program would like to invite the entire UVU community as well as all surrounding areas to take part in an opportunity to unite with one another in support of our Haitian brothers and sisters on their road to recovery.