Taking a Break from the Ordinary

I was very hesitant to make expectations about the trip before I came down here in case they would not be fulfilled. I didn't want to risk being disappointed, but the trip had gone way above and beyond anything that I could have hoped for. I learned so much about the situation and started to really have a desire to do as much as I possibly could for New Orleans.
-Dartmouth College student volunteering with Islamic Relief

Winter and spring breaks for college students are notoriously known for their days of carefree relaxing, winding down after finals, and nightly partying. But instead of the expected recess of lounging and idleness, two groups of Dartmouth students headed down to the Hurricane Katrina-devastated areas of Louisiana to assist Islamic Relief in its relief and recovery projects in the Gulf Coast.

For about two weeks during winter break this past December, 42 Dartmouth College students took the long journey from New Hampshire to Louisiana to do their part in assisting in the aid efforts.
"Working in New Orleans and Baton Rouge has been an extremely enlightening experience for me; I only wish I could do more for people," said Dartmouth student Winnifred Lewis. "All the destroyed houses and the many trailer parks were life-changing sights. Being here allowed me to not only see and appreciate the depths of the problems here, but it also allowed me to feel empowered in that we can change this."

On their first day in New Orleans, the students received a thorough tour of the devastation in the Lower Ninth Ward and other parts of the city. The student volunteers helped Islamic Relief feed the poor and those living in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailer parks, distribute bedroom and kitchen sets to evacuees, sort, provide, and distribute groceries in a warehouse, among other activities.

"I'm glad that we did various projects that forced us to interact with the people we came to help because it was through these that we were able to touch people and be touched by them," said Amara Ugboaja.
Another student added, "I came down here to gain perspective on the meaning of suffering and calamity. There is certainly personal turmoil we endure, but witnessing others' suffering allows us to learn gratitude."

Volunteers have been the backbone of Islamic Relief's relief efforts in the Hurricane Katrina-affected areas. This experience not only provides volunteers the opportunity to help their fellow Americans in need, but also allows them to leave with a better understanding of the needs of others and strengthens their desire to do more to help within their own local communities.

"This trip has given me the opportunity to help for two weeks, but it has also given me the opportunity to learn and acquire the skills to help more in the future. I look forward to it," said Sasha Otero.

Expressing the sentiment of many volunteers after such a unique lifetime experience, Alim Shaikh said, "All the work we've done here has been such an incredible and moving experience, I cannot help but want to come back here in the near future."

From Partnership, the official newsletter of Islamic Relief, Spring 2007