DSC students going overseas to teach rudimentary skills

Rewarding experiences may come to students who have sympathy for the needy and a desire to see the world progress by lending their help. The chance to aid people in third world countries has hit the Dixie State College campus hard and has been well received by many students. This summer five DSC students from different backgrounds are combining their dreams and goals to help the people of Thailand. Each student attending this humanitarian mission applied to a program called YouthLINC and were later accepted to go on the Thailand mission in June 2010. BreeAnna Carver, a junior communication major from Kaysville, said humanitarian work is her passion. "I love helping people," she said. "I went to Africa in July 2008 and it sparked my interest because I saw the huge need for help in third world countries. I am excited I have the chance to go to Thailand and help those people who aren't capable of helping themselves." According to YouthLINC.org, this humanitarian organization is set out to connect the ideas of local service along with international service. Pete Frost, alumni leader for the Thailand humanitarian mission, said this program is not one that just sends students out into a country with no training or experience. "Each student has to complete 80 or more hours of community service before they can be a part of one of these missions," he said. Josh Lane, a sophomore biology major from Salt Lake, said he likes that YouthLINC implements the idea that service starts at home. "A lot of organizations take people to different countries and they don't even know what service is," Lane said. "I feel like we are being well prepared because of the service we have to do before we go." Frost said all of the students who are going on the Thailand mission are involved in the planning process for six to eight months before they actually leave. "They contribute their time, energy and ideas into the planning process of this mission," he added. According to the program's Web site, each student receives a sponsorship through the organization. Sponsors consist of Utah Rotary Clubs, universities and colleges in Utah, businesses and private individuals. "Students who are going on the Thailand mission receive an $800 donation from one of those sponsors," Frost said. "After each student receives that sponsorship they have to go out into their own community to find people who want to donate money to support the rest of their mission." The Thailand mission will cost each student about $2,300; therefore, sponsorships are very much appreciated, he said. Carver said she is grateful for the contributions she has received from different people to help her go on this mission. "People want to make a difference," she said. "A lot of times people aren't able to go to lend their help in other countries. If they can donate money they feel connected to the cause in a more personal way." Carver said when she goes on these missions she takes pictures and brings them back to her sponsors to show them the work she did. "It lets them see exactly what their donation went to," she said. "With YouthLINC people are able to put a face with their donation and it makes them feel better about helping students go on these international missions." Frost said this year they will be sending students to work in the small communities of Phuket, Thailand. "We will mostly be working at the Wat Baan Sai School, participating in different building projects," Frost said. "Their restrooms haven't been working for a long time, so hopefully we can get some new plumbing, water storage systems and toilets in their school." Frost said YouthLINC volunteers work back and forth with an in-country coordinator to determine the needs of the community they are going to work in. "We also plan to do English and vocational training," Frost said. "We teach them practical skills they can use like sewing and cooking." Frost said they will also implement simple medical skills to teach the community how to take care of basic injuries. "The medical aspect is what sparked my attention," Lane said. "I'm going into medicine and have had quite a bit of experience in that field…I thought it would be fun to teach what I've learned to the people of Thailand." Lane has received sponsorships from different doctors in the St. George community who want to help him go out and improve the medical situation in Thailand. "Service makes anyone a better person," Lane said. "Everything we need is at our fingertips; we are very blessed here. It's not that easy for the people in Thailand."

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