| | Published April 11th, 2012
| SMC Student-Athletes Bring Sports Equipment, Experience to Peru
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Unlike many college students who sought sun and fun during their spring break, 17 Saint Mary's College student-athletes packed donations of clothing, shoes, sports equipment, and school supplies and set off for Lima, Peru March 31 to work closely with local children as part of the Here for Kids International outreach program.
The program, which is headed by SMC faculty member and president of Here for Kids International Randy Farris, connects at-risk children from other countries with student-athletes from across the United States. Athletes are selected from a pool of qualifying candidates recommended by coaches from colleges and universities.
SMC volleyball player Lauren Corp was joined by two fellow volleyball players (Missy White and Anna Schroeder), as well as 14 other student-athletes from Saint Mary's soccer, cross country, and lacrosse programs.
"This is not a class," Corp said. "The student-athletes received informational e-mails from Randy Farris, the individual who orchestrates this trip. Here For Kids International works with another organization called Kids Alive International. Kids Alive provides an education, nutritious meals, and medical care to more than 165 children in Peru."
Student-athletes helped run after-school activities (like sports) with kids ages 12-18 and worked on service projects within the community. This is the second year a group of student-athletes from Saint Mary's traveled to Peru to work with this organization.
It was Corp's first time in Peru (or in South America for that matter). She travelled last January to the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific for a class to teach some of the local villagers about sustainability, but also helped provide aid to villages that had been hit by tsunamis.
"I was excited to play with the kids and try to use the gifts that God has given me in order to help these children," Corp said. "I know that we were all looking to gain a little bit of perspective on this trip as well."
For information about Here for Kids, visit http://hereforkids.bbnow.org.
-J. Wake
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA