Miami Student

Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Campus

Ambassadors for Children supporters dance in Alexander Dining Hall to raise money for an upcoming trip to Malawi, Africa.

Music filled Alexander Dining Hall at Miami University Saturday as students danced to raise money for Ambassadors for Children's May 19 trip to Malawi, Africa.

In Malawi students will help build houses for an orphan's village. The Miami chapter of AFC also wanted to raise $5,000 that will pay for one of the houses. "Dancing for a Cause" was the last fundraiser and raised the final $500 that put the chapter at its $5,000 goal.

"I wanted to do something that was creative and fun and would draw a diverse crowd," said Marissa Hirsh, president of AFC's Miami chapter. "People could come and learn a new dance as well as knowing that they're doing something to help out."

The four-hour-long event included a dance lesson at the beginning of each hour where students learned the basic steps in a variety of different dances such as hip-hop, ballroom, salsa and swing. Students were then turned loose to work on their new moves. A total of 75 people came to the event throughout the evening.

Sophomore Grace Andrews and first-year Megan Garry both plan on going to Malawi.

"Everything looks really good," Andrews said. "I'm surprised by how many people showed up."

Malawi is the first AFC trip for both Garry and Andrews, and they have been busy throughout the year raising money and collecting supplies. Garry and Andrews said each person on the trip is responsible for bringing a 50-pound pack filled with everyday items such as deodorant, toothbrushes, books and shampoo.

"I've also gotten about 7 shots," Garry said. "But, it'll be worth it."

AFC is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to supporting children through short term volunteer trips, according to the organization's Web site.

"They call it 'voluntourism,' we go to parts of countries that tourists don't usually go, and we try to make a difference, but at the same time we really connect with people and the culture," Hirsh said.

The Miami chapter of AFC is only one year old and it was the first of now more than 30 local chapters to be created last year. It is primarily responsible for organizing students to go on service trips, but it also collects supplies and raises money and awareness for AFC throughout the year, according to Hirsh.

The Miami chapter currently organizes students to go on three trips per year, two on spring break, and one at the beginning of the summer, but it is hoping to expand and offer a winter break trip next year.

In the past, AFC has gone Guatemala and El Salvador where they helped build a small park, volunteered at an orphanage, and helped local non-profit organizations.

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