MCPHERSON, Kansas – Five McPherson College students will soon go to Haiti to implement a plan to get the country back on its feet. It started as a challenge that they hope will actually impact Haitians in a real way.
The students didn’t know each other two weeks ago, but something they had in common brought them closer together.
"I'm really passionate about helping people,” said student Melisa Grandison.
"To go out and just help the people of Haiti,” said student Ryan Stauffer.
"I've always kind of just wanted to help people,” said student Tori Carder.
And that’s exactly what they plan to do in Haiti after winning the school’s Global Enterprise Challenge. The object is to create a solution to the economic devastation of the Haiti earthquake.
"They were each able to really go out from our daily meetings throughout the 10 days and bring back information and bring their strengths,” said Chris Paulsen, group advisor.
Their plan is to give Haitian agricultural and clothing job opportunities as entrepreneurs. A portion of their product will be sold online to sustain the program. The rest can be sold in a marketplace.
“We wanted to create something outside of the classroom that would allow students to show us that they are enterprising,” said Michael Schneider, president of McPherson College.
The group says most of the help in Haiti has come in the form of relief efforts and they say that is slowing the process of Haitians getting back on their feet financially.
"They can do it on their own; they don't have to accept money or charity,” said Stauffer. “They can help themselves by participating in this program."
The team is still planning their trip to Haiti and even though that’s hard work of its own, it’s the outcome that they look forward to.
"I'm overwhelmed and excited at the same time, because I think we have the potential to make a difference,” said Grandison.
The team has already been in contact with more than a dozen Haitians, activists and entrepreneurs who are willing to provide support to the project.
