USU business students help Ethiopian orphans
A group of USU students is teaming with Dove Adoptions International Inc. to deliver hygienic, educational and recreational supplies to orphaned children in Ethiopia.
As part of a project for a business management class, 11 students are collecting donations Monday through Thursday in the Sunburst Lounge, with tables will set up between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“This is a great project,” said project leader Josh Carlstrom. “The kids are pretty much orphans due to AIDS. Over there, if they make it to age 6, their chances of getting adopted are next to nothing. If we could give them something to live for, that would be an accomplishment for us.”
Group member John Nguyen said they are accepting a variety of items including clothing, school supplies, hygiene products and toys for children of all ages. They are also accepting monetary donations.
“They don’t have that much,” Nguyen said. “I feel really good about it. It’s great because they don’t have parents and they don’t really have anything.”
The most important supplies to collect are recreational items, especially soccer balls, since Carlstrom said children in Ethiopia love to play soccer but do not have the proper equipment.
Ed Kotter, who is also working on this project, said, “Right now kids over there are playing soccer using bags bundled together and taped up to kick around. I can’t imagine kicking something like that. Having soccer balls will bring them more enjoyment than we can imagine.”
Items donated will be delivered by David Osmond, a friend of a group member who will be traveling to Ethiopia and has been allotted 400 pounds of items to deliver by the adoption agency. Nguyen said everything should be delivered by the end of the month.
Carlstrom said, “I’m glad to be able to have the opportunity to do this and to have a personal connection. We will have a firsthand account from [Osmond] and hear how it went. It will be awesome to see the direct impact.”
Kotter said, “It’s a great opportunity to be able to be a part of enhancing a child’s life and to have a hand in helping kids have a happier childhood.”
Raffle tickets will also be available to purchase from the group during the week. The raffle will be held Nov. 11. Winners will receive a variety of products and gift certificates from businesses in Logan.
-ariek@cc.usu.edu