Eight Quest University students who are heading to Rwanda to help build a women's shelter are hosting a fundraising dinner designed to remind Canadians just how lucky they are to be born into the situation they're in.
"We're so fortunate,' said Carmen Petrick, a co-organizer of the event and the trip. "There are people in this world who were born with so little opportunity and it's something too many of us take for granted."
Understanding those less fortunate is the premise behind "Experience Rwanda" on Saturday, Feb. 12. Upon arrival, guests will each pick a number out a box and each number represents a class. The smallest group represents the upper class, or wealthy percentage of the Rwandan population; a slightly larger group represents the middle class and the largest group represents the third class.
"It's meant to bring awareness to global hunger issues in developing nations, specifically in Rwanda," Petrick said. "We will use the audience as a demonstration where everyone will be divided into classes and receive a meal based on their socioeconomic status."
Guests will be fed according to their class and treated the way they would be in Rwanda - the upper class gets a full-course meal, the middle class gets an average meal and the lower class gets some sweet potato mush. Afterward, a buffet will be served to ensure all audience members are satisfied.
The evening will include live entertainment, student presentations and a silent auction.
Proceeds will help fund a student trip to Gashora, Rwanda, to help finish building a women's collective shelter where employees teach women trades so they can generate their own income.
"It gives them independence," said Becca Dickenson, co-organizer of the trip. "The province Gashora is in, Kigali, has the highest rate of HIV in Rwanda and research shows that if there's two sources of income in a household, if one parent dies there's another alternative to prostitution.
"There's also a whole bunch of statistics we've been reading about that say when women have an income, more if it goes towards children and education."
The volunteers will also help create green spaces for growing food within the community as part of the project.
Petrick, Dickenson and the six other students are hoping some good Samaritans from Squamish will join them.
"Anyone between the ages of 18 and 30 are welcome to join us and we're really hoping that some people outside Quest will want to take part," Petrick said.
The trip is organized through a Kamloops-based non-governmental organization (NGO) called Developing World Connections and both Petrick and Dickenson have participated in trips with them before.
Petrick went to Cambodia and Dickenson was in Guatemala and both said their experience changed their lives. They said Developing World Connections focuses on contributing lasting benefits to a community instead of throwing money at problems.
"It's sort of helping the community build themselves up instead of just pumping money into a community and creating a static solution," Petrick said.
The trip is five weeks long and costs range between $3,500 and $4,500 depending on the cost of flights and how much money is received from fundraisers. Both women said the trip is more than worthwhile.
"It's an interesting opportunity to have a deeper understanding of a culture abroad," Dickenson said, "especially a developing culture, and then bring it back and share that experience with other people so they're also interested in it."
Petrick said her Cambodia trip was an incredible experience that really broadened her horizons.
"When I went on my first trip it was this crazy, mind-opening experience and I got to know the people so well and fully understand their culture," she said. "I just want other students to be able to experience that and see how fortunate we are."
Anyone interested in joining the excursion can contact Becca Dickenson at (250) 320-2590 or Carmen Petrick at (604) 848-8894.
The Rwanda socioeconomic divide fundraiser dinner will be held in the Quest University Multipurpose Room on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. Admission will be charged on a sliding scale - for the students to break even, students must pay $15 and adults $20, and additional contributions will go toward the students' trip.
"It's hard to travel as a student," Petrick said. "But this is an opportunity to appreciate a new culture and work with a community."
Tickets are available at Onatah, Zephyr, Gelato Carina, The Bookshelf and Quest University reception.
