As I sit on my bed in Cape Town, South Africa, roughly 8,541 miles from Milwaukee, I can't help but feel proud and inspired by the Marquette community. The second floor of the Alumni Memorial Union was filled with South African goods and wonderful people, all part of a fundraiser for the Amy Biehl Foundation Trust (ABFT) last week. ABFT is a South African non-governmental organization that I am currently working with as part of Marquette's South African Service Learning Program. The fundraiser began as a simple idea from my friend Anna Titulaer: purchase local goods, ship them home, sell them and ask for donations to benefit ABFT. All of my expectations were completely exceeded when I received word that the fundraiser had raised over $1,200 in only five day's time.

While the money that was raised will enable the foundation to do incredible things and continue with their currently successful programs, the fundraiser had other repercussions. It created and raised awareness of Amy Biehl, her story and the foundation itself. By providing an explanation of ABFT, all those that visited the table or spoke to those involved with the fundraiser learned of the problems that exist in South Africa: extreme poverty, atrocious living conditions, the HIV/AIDS crisis, violence and inequality, to name a few. It is quite easy to lose sight of these problems. They have existed for some time and seldom make newspaper headlines. However, if we are not consciously aware of them, there is no hope that they can ever be curbed or eliminated.

This fundraiser brought South Africa's problems, as well as a non-governmental organization that is working to solve them, into clear view for all members of Marquette's community. While I am extremely grateful that far more people on campus now have this awareness and understanding, it is crucial to take that next step. Alone, awareness is nothing. Yes, it is important to know that these things are happening, but in order to better the situation, more must be done. While creating homes for all South Africans, increasing literacy rates, diminishing the infection rate of HIV/AIDS and ending violence seem impossible, they are achievable. However, we need help. Spread awareness and your knowledge. Read the newspaper. Send articles to your friends. Become conscious of what is happening in our world. Find your passion and then become an advocate.

I had tears in my eyes when I was told that $1,200 had been raised by the Marquette Community for the little South African NGO that I work with. I was so proud of and thankful to everyone on campus that was a part of the fundraiser, whether they helped plan it, told someone about it, bought a good or made a donation. What a difference you all made! It is because of people like you that ABFT is able to provide worthwhile programs to and positively influence the lives of the youth in Cape Town. However, we must not stop here. Consider visiting that table in the AMU, reading about the fundraiser in the Marquette Tribune and this viewpoint, as a call to action. We all have great responsibility and great capabilities to make a difference in this world. All we need is that awareness to get things started and the passion to see it through.

This viewpoint was published in The Marquette Tribune on October 25, 2005.