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USF Students To Help At Schools, Orphanages In Tanzania

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LAURA KINSLER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 13, 2008

USF CAMPUS - Anybody could write a check, call "American Idol" or buy a song on iTunes and say they were doing something to help the 12 million children in Africa orphaned by AIDS.

They would be right.

The three University of South Florida students who founded By Your Side aren't just anybody. Amir Boules, Konstance Kasimos and Joanna Scian are honors students whose intelligence is equaled by their determination to make a difference in the world. They were so moved by the plight of Africa's AIDS orphans that they will travel to Tanzania in August to volunteer at orphanages and schools.

Eight students are planning to go on the two-week odyssey with USF professor Dawood Sultan, who teaches Africana studies and public health. Sultan has led similar trips since 2002, but this will be his first group from USF.

"The students will be paying their own way," Sultan said. "This is not a glorified trip to Africa. If we go on safari, it will be on our own dime."

Kasimos and Boules, both seniors who are studying biomedical sciences, will produce a documentary on the trip as part of their honors theses.

"We wanted to do something with end-of-life issues," Boules said. "We also wanted to create an everlasting project that would still be here after we graduate."

Volunteer work is nothing new for Boules. He gives of his time to assist local cancer patients, and he spent his spring break in Los Angeles cooking and delivering meals for cancer patients and people with AIDS.

He is president of By Your Side and helped spearhead an effort to raise money for Alzheimer's patients and their families. The student service organization focuses on helping patients and their families cope with life-limiting illnesses.

"Each semester, we're going to take a different cause," Kasimos said. "One of the members heard about Dr. Sultan and his work in Africa. We thought, 'Let's start out with a bang.'"

The group raised more than $2,000 through a student fundraiser in April. Its members hope to make an even bigger splash June 21 when they host a charity gala at the Sam & Martha Gibbons Alumni Center.

For the gala, they sent invitations to hundreds of physicians and faculty members. The formal event will feature dinner, a champagne reception and a performance by the USF African Dance Group. AIDS researcher Patricia Emmanuel will be the featured speaker.

Sultan has donated African artwork from his personal collection for a silent auction. Ticket purchases and donations are tax-deductible.

Kasimos, who is from Toronto, said the students have applied for scholarships and grants to help pay for the $4,500 trip. "We're all working summer jobs and asking our family and friends for donations," she said.

As adviser, Sultan will guide the students as they oversee how the money is spent and give hands-on assistance. It's important that American students understand the right kind of help. For example, one of the schools he visits had established a program to teach women sewing and embroidery skills so they could make a living without endangering their health.

"It gives them better options, so they don't have to work on the street," he said.

But the benefactor donated electric sewing machines. When Sultan asked why the sewing room was empty, he learned that the school had no money to pay for electricity. He paid for two years' worth.

"At first, we felt like we were in over our heads," Kasimos said. "But when we heard that Dr. Sultan paid for a year's worth of electricity with $60, we realized that we can make a big difference."

The USF group will help the school buy a sunflower seed press, which will provide it with steady income.

It also will help The Baobab Home launch a new program to educate "street boys" who have lost parents to AIDS.

"They know what they need," Kasimos said. "They just need the monetary support."

The students will visit a former slave market on Zanzibar Island and a Masai village where children are learning English in school in order to work in the tourism industry. They will bring basic health supplies and educational materials.

"We want to be the first group of students from USF to go to Tanzania," Kasimos said. "Next summer, hopefully students will be able to go and earn credit."

Sultan is working with the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences to partner with USF's College of Public Health for an accredited study-abroad program.

"Graduate students will be able to get international fieldwork," he said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: AIDS & Africa Charity Gala

WHERE: Sam & Martha Gibbons Alumni Center, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave.

WHEN: 7 p.m. June 21 (the reservation deadline is Saturday, June 14)

HOW MUCH: $150 per person or $275 per couple

INFORMATION: Call (727) 645-7277 or visit www.ctr.usf.edu/byyourside/aids.html.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844 or lkinsler@tampatrib.com.

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