Senior Morgan Lieberman, junior Niki Karimi and sophomores Julie Esmond and Ashlyn Gary have traveled around the world to give back to poverty-stricken communities. Along the way, they were exposed to new cultures and different ethnicities.
Senior Morgan Lieberman
-Lida Dianti – Features Editor
In the small town of Georgetown, South Carolina, senior Morgan Lieberman truly discovered what makes a house a home when she devoted ten days at a Habitat for Humanity intensive program.
“The program was extremely eye-opening to me because I knew every hour I spent working on the house meant a more balanced life for this family and hope for happier tomorrows,” said Lieberman.
Lieberman was one of 400 volunteers who worked to provide the Greene family a home they deserved. She learned that by providing a family with stable shelter, other important aspects central to family life such as work productivity and overall health can be improved.
Photo courtesy of Morgan Lieberman
Junior Niki Karimi
While most students spent their summer vacation tanning and soaking up the sun, junior Niki Karimi dedicated her time to help those in need. She traveled through the Momi Bay Hills in Fiji for 10 days to volunteer with young children.
“Going [to] a third world country [made me] a different person,” said Karimi. “The poverty and poor [conditions] in Fiji [made] me thankful for everything I have.”
While in Fiji, Karimi instated music, art and physical education programs in hopes of leaving a smile on each child’s face. Not only was the program beneficial to the underprivileged people of Fiji, but it also allowed Karimi to develop and mature as a citizen of the world.
Photo courtesy of Niki Karimi
Sophomore Julie Esmond
Udon Thani, Thailand is a poverty-stricken community in desperate need of help. Eager to provide the residents of this village with food, shelter and education, sophomore Julie Esmond worked to implement change this summer through a volunteer program named Rustic Pathways.
Esmond built schools, delivered food to the people of Udon Thani and taught English to the teenagers of Udon Thani. She also gained a new outlook on life.
“One of the biggest differences between the culture here and in Thailand is that their main goal is just survival,” said Esmond.
Third world communities, like Udon Thani, are deprived of basic necessities. With dedicated volunteers like Esmond, a promising future does not seem so far away.
Photo courtesy of Julie Esmond
Sophomore Ashlyn Gary
-Danielle Padilla – Staff Writer
The media commonly labels the 21st century as “The Dreamer Generation.” The current era fosters people who believe they can change the world. Sophomore Ashlyn Gary views herself as the epitome of this Dreamer Generation.
After Gary found out about a cruel act in India known as “bride burning” through her aunt’s foundation, Wellspring International, she accompanied her aunt on a trip to India to help a free burn clinic. Gary had the opportunity to assist the patients with daily routines. “It made [me] forget about all [my] troubles because [the women] were so optimistic even though they had so many horrific burns,” said Gary.
Gary’s time in India has forever inspired her to make a change.
Photo courtesy of Ashlyn Gary
