On Sunday, April 12, the 10 annual Aid to South Africa event was held in Hollinger Field House Gym. The Aid to South Africa, or ASA, is a yearlong project that accumulates to the main event, the one recently held.
“I would consider us a planning committee,” stated director of Aid to South Africa Haley Paiva. The event was a collection of music, food, entertainment, games, and information tables.
The event started out with an alumni brunch, which invites all former ASA and Honors College members, followed by a 5k run around West Chester University’s campus.
The actual event was carnival style with a dunk tank, moon bounces, henna, face painting, and raffles that were donated from local businesses and committee chairs that were located in the Lawrence parking lot. The event received a lot of volunteer help through organizations on campus such as Student Activities Council, Student Outreach to Urban Schools, and acapella groups.
The ASA offers, “A lot of opportunities to come get involved,” stated Paiva. The awareness aspect of the event, held in Hollinger, consisted of three tables for the beneficiaries including Mosaic, the H.E.L.P. Soup Ministries, Nkosi’s Haven, and Sparrow Village. There was also a student table to share pictures and stories when students from the Honors College of West Chester University went to South Africa this past summer.
A cool feature of this event was the live shack that represents how the families and children live in South Africa. The ASA raises money through local businesses over the course of the year and the money then goes to the beneficiaries located in South Africa.[pullquote]A cool feature of this event was the live shack that represents how the families and children live in South Africa.[/pullquote]
The purpose of the money raised is to help aid families who endure hunger, provide comfort to AIDS victims, and raise awareness. “We do what we do because we like service and the opportunity to help,” stated Paiva.
Anyone can join, volunteer, or participate with this project every year. The ASA meets once in the fall and then every week the month prior to the event to make sure goals are met throughout the year.
The Honors College travels every other year to South Africa to visit the beneficiaries, but even though “we are closely affiliated, you don’t have to be a part of the Honors College to be a part of ASA,” stated Paiva. The Aid to South Africa consists of 13 committee chairs and one director and can be reached at AidtoSouthAfrica@wcupa.edu for any questions.
Thierra Walker is a second-year student majoring in communications with a minor in creative writing. She can be reached at TW804496@wcupa.edu.