Students help change the world

By Brendan Dugan

Charitable organizations and companies came to Marian’s campus to share their message and vision last Thursday, February 2, as part of student-led Operation: Change the World.

Sophomores Mary Ganser and Katie Groves orchestrated the event to fulfill their San Damiano service project, a requirement of all such scholars. The idea sprang from a concern with lacking opportunities or hindrances to do mission-based work.

“We were talking prior to working together [on Operation] about mission trips,” said Ganser. “Neither of us had the means to on a mission trip, and we feel that many people don’t” as much as they may like to. Naturally, they brought them to campus.

Some of the featured organizations and companies include Toms, Krochet Kids, Project Seven, Out of Print Clothing, Global Gifts, Charity Water, and One World Futbal, among others. These organizations build upon relatively charitable business models, such as Toms’ trademarked “one for one” strategy, donating a pair of shoes or eyeglasses to disadvantaged children for each pair bought in the U.S.

Krochet Kids works to “empower people to rise above poverty,” according to their website, by teaching skills – crocheting, for example – by educating and employing women in developing countries like Uganda. Project Seven donates all profit it collects from selling its products to nonprofits. Out of Print Clothing sends a book to Africa for every purchase of a novel-inspired shirt.

Do these organizations positively impact the people they claim to help, or do they use their philanthropy as a selling point?

“We researched to make sure the companies actually benefit the people,” said Groves. A self-released report by TOMS asserts that none of the shoes, which are made in China, Ethiopia, and Argentina, are made by children and that all the workers are paid fair wages. The report can be found under the Frequently Asked Questions of TOMS’ website.

“You can start with something as small as changing the products you’re buying.” said Ganser. “It’s an easy way to embody Franciscan stewardship. As college students, we don’t have a lot of money or time,” making service or volunteering a potentially more difficult.

Information regarding each company or organization is available on the web.