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Concrete, global change is the mission for the Central American Service Association (CASA). Anyone can volunteer time, but CASA has a different goal.
The group consists of students who are looking to utilize their own interests and concentrations for the betterment of others. The group was derived from a Spanish service course taught by Kathleen March, the club’s current advisor. In the spring of 2004, the class traveled to Honduras after a semester of fundraising and decided they wanted to create a student group that could be active year-round. They decided to keep a focus on Honduras in order to create a stronger connection with the community.
The idea of global service work is not new, but with the close-knit bonds created by CASA in Honduras, students are able to develop their own projects based on what peaks their interest or something related to their field of study.
“We’re very involved in the community, and we have community contacts down there,” said Darlene Bergeron, CASA’s treasurer. She is currently working on her master’s degree in sociology, Spanish and women’s studies.
“We do things that a lot of people don’t do if you’re going down as a tourist. … We really get into the community and find out what their issues are,” she said.
Not all CASA members travel to Honduras or speak Spanish. Since many of the club members do speak fluent Spanish, there are enough people to translate for anyone who cannot speak the language or who aren’t as experienced. For those who do know Spanish, the immersion can be beneficial for learning and understanding the culture.
“Students really get to practice their Spanish and apply it. … It challenges the students to think, and to look, to evaluate and to ask questions,” Bergeron said.
Since the group has contacts in the area, it is able to see what is in immediate need and are able to have projects brought to them. Since the group comes back year after year, these are things it has been able to assist with continuously. One of these projects was building a library.
“We have spent, over the years, a lot of time raising money, gathering books and helping to support the construction of the library in the town of Dulce Nombre, and that library became a reality,” March said.
Throughout the year, CASA participates in continuous fundraising. On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the group made cards, which they plan to sell at the University of Maine’s annual Culturefest Nov. 7. They often table in Memorial Union and try to bring awareness of their efforts as a group and Central American issues.
Not only has CASA created a network of their own in Honduras, they also inspired volunteerism throughout the UMaine community. The UMaine student group Engineers Without Borders began work in Honduras after two civil engineering students, Heather Martin and Lee Rand, joined CASA on one of its trips. Engineers Without Borders has strived to help with water and sanitation improvements in the towns of Ducle Vivir and Dulce Nombre.
Hannah Hudson, CASA’s new president this semester, hopes to be able to help build the group up and spread knowledge of what it does. Hudson, a second-year international affairs and Spanish student, has yet to travel with CASA but participated in a mission trip to Honduras in high school. Hudson explained most mission trips are comprised of a lot of people with organized tasks. Sometimes missionaries go to an area once and might not go back. Since CASA goes year after year, it allows for individual projects students decide upon and can work on overtime and creates a close-knit connection with the contacts in the area.
“I think a lot of eyes are open,” March said. “Sometimes tears are shed, sometimes people are very upset, sometimes people are sad, sometimes people are angry and sometimes people feel very, very fulfilled by what they do. It’s not therapy. It’s not a ‘feel good’ type of thing. It’s ‘What did you learn from doing this work?’ It’s always ‘What did you learn?’”
Since the group allows for individual projects, the learning experience is unique for everyone. Bergeron is currently working on her thesis and is incorporating it into the group’s work in Honduras. Bergeron worked with the Safe Campus Project for eight years and is familiar with domestic violence and sexual assault issues. She plans on using her knowledge to find out what women in Honduras have for services and assistance and to aid where she can.
“You’re not doing charity,” March said. “You collaborate, you help maybe develop something … That is a service, but everybody participates. And I really love doing it. … It’s meaningful, active learning.”
Bangor Daily News