• The Bulldog Press
• by Jake Brugger '11
• April/May 2010

The Judge Memorial Interact Club has shown its commitment to humanitarian aid, in partnership with the Ban Nom Hom Project of Westminster College.

In its recent "Chiwit" fundraising dinner, the club raised a grand total of $14,500, all of which will go towards the installation of a water purification system for Bermese refugees in Thailand. The surplus cash will go to the refitting of the school library which the children attend.

"There was so much excess money that the library of the school for these refugee children will be totally rebuild with concrete floors, study walls, and a solid roof so that the books and computers in the library will have a safe environment," says Dr. Corethia Qualls, head of the Judge Interact Club. "In fact, the computers have not been used because the walls of the library could not protect them from dirt. The new library will be named The Judge Memorial Interact Library as a thank you for the generosity of all those who made the new building possible."

The Ban Nom Hom Project of Westminster College, run by Dr. Han Kim, is devoted solely to the aid of Burmese refugees, many of whom are living in impoverished rural areas of neighboring Thailand, displaced by the ongoing internal conflict in Burma.

This war, which began in April of 1948, has claimed over 70,000 Burmese lives and has displaced millions, most of whom have fled to the relative safety of bordering Thailand.

Many refugees are living in poverty, with little or no access to clean drinking water, a fact which led Dr. Kim to found his organization with the sole focus on the Burmese. This project, in cooperation with the Judge Interact Club and the Salt Lake Rotary Club, raised well over their initial goal at "Chiwit," and can now fund not only the basic water purification system, but the aforementioned school renovations which will lead to improved education in the region. The Interact Club has truly done a great service to the humanitarian movement, and should be proud of their commitment and achievements.

The 2010-2011 Club will be led by future president Marissa Fuller, vice president Lexy Wright, secretary Sarina Karwande and treasurer Chris Turner.