Inspire, Summer 2008

2 summer 2008 what’s abuzz your source for what ’ s new and exciting at C edarville U niversity Giving Big Burdened by the AIDS epidemic ravishing African countries, a group of Cedarville students initiated the campus-wide Home of Hope project in fall 2007. They partnered with World Help and the Student Government Association (SGA) in hopes of raising $25,000 to build a house in Zambia where 12 orphans affected by the AIDS crisis could live in a stable home environment. “We took a holistic approach to the endeavor,” said project leader and 2007–08 SGA Vice President Emily Kraft ’09. “We wanted students to not only engage this issue through financial contribution, but also educate themselves, and then consider what it would look like to incorporate their own interests, talents, and skills in changing the lives of the children.” To meet the goal, students organized events that not only raised funds but also increased awareness across the entire campus. Students and campus organizations sponsored documentary showings, on-campus activities, fundraising incentives, and a 5K fundraising race with Wittenberg University (Springfield, Ohio). The project culminated in a University-wide chapel offering where students sacrificially gave $23,000. By May 2008, donations totaled $39,000, surpassing the original goal in an unprecedented amount of time. Looking back on the project, committee member Baxter Stapleton ’11 said, “Never have I seen students so excited to take action, raise awareness, and donate money to help their brothers and sisters in Christ who live halfway around the world.” “This type of project demonstrates what is at the heart of the Cedarville student body: a love for people,” said Bob Rohm ’68, vice president for Christian ministries. “Our students are generous and caring.” Construction of the three-bedroom, 900-square-foot home will soon be underway, allowing the children to gain better access to educational and medical resources and have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. The surplus of funds allows for further opportunities to impact the orphans and the village. “The purpose of this project was not just to raise money,” said committee member Brittany Donald ’08. “The long-term purpose was to change the lives of orphans in Zambia and evoke permanent change in students. Who knows how these changed lives will impact the community, the country, and even the world?” “The long-term purpose was to change the lives of orphans in Zambia and evoke permanent change in students.” In chapel, Kristie Febo ’08 (left) and Jennifer Flynn ’08 (right) encouraged students to give money to the Home of Hope project and explained how their organization, the Student Center Activity Board, raised close to $3,000 toward the total $39,000 collected.