MSU Going Global Fair showcases international service programs

---

Tweet

International studies junior Christian Scott is just trying to make a difference.

Scott was one of nine students who went on a study abroad trip this summer in India and spent every three days in a new location.

Scott worked in many of India’s lowest-income communities and saw how 130,000 children die every year from illnesses such as measles, which easily can be cured with a vaccine.

“When you live there and you see 8,000 kids (not immunized) in the area, you want to do something when you got back,” Scott said.

And that’s exactly what he did.

Once they were back in Michigan, Scott and the other students got together and decided to raise enough money to immunize each of those children, which costs $2 for every child.

Scott’s group was one of many initiatives on display Wednesday afternoon at the International Center in the MSU Going Global Fair, which welcomed students to promote the work they have contributed to communities around the world.

The fair is in its first year, but Stephanie Motschenbacher, the director of communications for MSU’s International Studies and Programs, said she hopes the fair will become an annual occurrence on campus.

“There are a lot of different student groups on campus that are engaging in international projects and developments and fundraisers and trying to make the world a better place,” Motschenbacher said. “We had the idea that we should have an event that celebrates that activity involved with student groups and gives them a chance to promote what they’re doing and reach out to other students.”

Comparative cultures and politics junior Skye McDonald represented the Education for the Future Foundation on Wednesday, which provides aid to people around the world to help them pay for education. McDonald was part of EFF-Kenya, which this year helped three Kenyan girls pay for high school.

The Kenyan government provides free education until eighth grade, McDonald said, and since many families cannot afford it, girls often get married instead of finishing their education.

“Even though it’s only $450 a year to go to high school, it’s completely out of reach for the majority of Kenyan students,” she said. “Education and going on to high school really is the best way for helping (girls) get out of that situation and to have a say in how their lives should be.”

Chinese and Spanish sophomore Kenya Williams came to the fair, but said she had trouble choosing between which program is best for her.

“I want to be one of those Americans that is actually interested in helping other people,” Williams said. “There’s so much I want to be a part of, but there’s no time to do anything. I would like to help every initiative — every group here — but I don’t have enough money for that.”

The fair held a fundraiser for each program where visitors were encouraged to donate a few dollars or small change to the initiatives. The group with the most donations won a digital camera.

Scott and his group were given $100 by an anonymous contributor — enough to immunize 50 children — and said he was making plans for what to do with a new digital camera.

“We’re going to use that camera to document our fundraising here,” he said. “Then the study abroad group that’s going next year, they’re going during the immunization week so they’re going to take that camera with them to document the actual program happening.”

---