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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/15/05
Greenville College Students Will Travel to India to Aid in Tsunami Relief Efforts
Students to Spend Spring Break Rebuilding Orphanage in Nanguneri
GREENVILLE,
ILL. – “After weeks of watching the number of the dead rise from the
tsunami disaster, my hands are restless to help those hurting,” said
Greenville College Sophomore, Katie Kapteyn. Kapteyn, one of twelve
students selected to participate in a service trip to India , will soon
have her prayers realized as she travels with other students and staff
members to Nanguneri to rebuild Agape Adayakulem Hostel. The trip,
which will take place during the college's spring break, March 25 –
April 3, will cost $24,000, which the students will raise through
private donations, a golf tournament and dinner.
The
Agape Adayakulem Hostel (AAH) has its roots in the Free Methodist
Church 's (FMC) early ministry to street children in Bombay , India .
Know as “rag pickers,” these children would roam the streets of Bombay
looking for handouts, collecting trash and rags for possible resale to
manufacturers.
To provide for these children
the FMC took them off the streets to feed, clothe and teach them. The
FMC moved the children from the harsh conditions of Bombay to the
eastern shore of India and began the Agape Adayakulem Hostel. The “back
wash” from the recent tsunami destroyed the four building of the Hostel
and laid waste to the surrounding property. After discussing options
with the FMC, it was determined, that Greenville College 's greatest
contribution would be to help in rebuilding the main building of the
Hostel.
“I want to help them,” said sophomore
elementary education major, Heather Ryan. “We've been called to love
the world, even and especially when it means getting our hands dirty.”
Fund-raising
activities include a $25 Italian dinner scheduled for Saturday February
26, to be held at the Greenville College Dining Commons at 6 pm . The
college will also host a golf scramble at Stonebridge Golf Club,
Saturday, March 5, which will include lunch. Donations may be made to
Greenville College . Please note “Experiential Learning – Tsunami
Relief” in the memo line of the check. Those pledging $250 or more will
receive a DVD documentary of the group's experience in India .
Greenville College is a four-year
accredited Christian liberal arts school with more than 1400
traditional undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree completion
students. Founded in 1892 and affiliated with the Free Methodist
Church , the college is located in Greenville, Illinois, 45 miles east
of St. Louis.
CONTACT: Christy Grimes
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Assistant Director of Public Relations
Greenville College
(618) 664-6515
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