International relations-oriented clubs at the University of Idaho hosted a week of fundraising and awareness for Ukrainian relief efforts. The goal was to raise money but also bring awareness to human rights issues Ukrainian citizens are facing.
Abigail Rode, lead Alternative Service Break specialist with the Center for Volunteerism and Social Activism, pitched the idea to the UI Amnesty International chapter which reached out to other clubs. Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization focused on promoting human rights. Members of the UI chapter, Natalie Miller and Jake Espeland, said a member showed interest in acting after observing other schools’ acts.
Miller said collaborating with other clubs naturally progressed after deciding to do tabling in the ISUB.
“We had snacks for students with a QR code attached at the top with a Ukrainian flag and people could scan it,” Espeland said. “We wanted to make it clear that there was no obligation on the part of any of the students to donate but we highly encouraged it. And we gave them the snack and of course when they’re picking up the snacks, we gave them the talk about Ukraine. And of course, an overwhelming majority of students were already familiar with it.”
Kiva, a non-profit organization dedicated to giving people 0% interest micro loans to people around the world who don’t have access to traditional banking, paired up for the week of fundraising. Natalie Mesplay and Yasmine Tovar are members of the UI chapter. Tovas said the opportunity to fundraise was supported by ASUI.
“I think that for everyone to just be involved and know that they can make a difference, no matter where they are, is really important,” Mesplay said. “That’s something that Kiva is really good at teaching people is that no matter where you come from, you have the ability to make a difference. And it’s fundraisers like these to help raise awareness about issues and help people think that these things might be happening a world away, but (there are) shockwaves that they send through our international system.”
Willem Hermann-Wedemeyer heads the International Affairs Club at UI. Hermann-Wedemeyer said the international interest clubs have been wanting to combine for an event for a while. The weeklong event raised donations along with awareness of the conflict.
“The campus is kind of like a representation of the community and the state in a lot of ways,” Hermann-Wedemeyer said. “So we’re where information blossoms and branches from, especially in Idaho right now. I think we play like a really vital role in showing that we know our stuff and we’re like a solid representation of the state.”
Sierra Pesnell can be reached at [email protected]
Erin Fanning
Nice to hear how UI clubs are trying to help Ukraine!