Monks Welcome Student Tsunami Aid

By Alanna Leigh Feinsod

Bracelets and bake sales, money and school supplies. We buy, we consume, and we give, all in the name of tsunami relief. We may also worry if the money raised is really reaching the victims of that tragedy.

The college recently hosted two Sri Lankan monks from the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara, in Franklin Township, who spent about an hour reassuring the students, faculty, and staff of RVCC that their money is being well spent.

The monks, who met with students on Feb. 17th, are working to build a village in Sri Lanka for children orphaned in the tsunami, and assured the college that everything they receive is donated directly to the victims. They said that the goods they send to Sri Lanka are received by monks there, who then accompany the goods to make sure they reach the proper destination.

Although there were only a handful of people in attendance, about 15, mostly club presidents, faculty, and staff, they were a captive audience. Questions were asked about the conditions of the roads in Sri Lanka and the ability of goods to get to the people who need them. Tsunamis pose interesting problems because they destroy so many roads making it harder to transport supplies.

According to one of the monks, Bhante Kondanna, the roads are one of the first things they repair, in order to make conveying equipment and provisions easier. Other questions included what supplies the temple most needs now, and how Buddhists find comfort in a time of crisis.

Relief efforts here on campus have been big, probably bigger than anyone would have expected. “We knew it was going to be tough. The good thing is, everybody is participating, all the clubs, and the faculty and staff. That was our goal, not just [for] the SGA [to get involved], but everybody on campus, and we’re very grateful,” says S. Mohamed Kaba, the Student Government Association president. He estimates that the selling of the silicone Tsunami Relief bracelets has brought a “few hundred” dollars to the effort, and they have just been reordered because people have been snatching them up so quickly.

The International and Rotary Clubs have been collaborating to find ways to raise money to donate. They have already collected around $280 and are holding a luncheon on March 22. With tickets priced at $5 and all proceeds going to the relief, they are sure to make a nice donation.

On Valentine’s Day the club members walked around campus selling baked goods, and, according to the International Club President David Lorduy, “When we told them it was for the survivors of the tsunami, they actually bought stuff. One teacher donated $20 on top of buying other goods.”

The money the International and Rotary clubs have raised so far is being given to the monks, and they are considering giving their luncheon proceeds to UNICEF, a respected organization that Forbes ranks in the top 75 out of 200 for charitable commitment.

With all these facts in place it is easy to see why so many students have decided to do their part, however small, to help the victims of the awful tragedy. The monks’ temple has already collected $500,000, and made note of saying that $100,000 of that has come from families of the victims of 9/11.

Students can go to the Student Activities Center to buy relief bracelets from the SGA, or tickets for the International and Rotary clubs’ luncheon taking place on March 22, both for $5. Also look for other collections that will be going on around campus throughout the semester.