"FROM COLLIER TO CARREFOUR" BRINGS AWARENESS TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING

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By Janis Mork

May 11, 2013 (La Mesa)- “From Collier To Carrefour”, a fundraiser held April 28 at Collier Park, raised funds to send young adult leaders to a summer camp in Carrefour, Haiti through New Format, a Bible study for young adults that is part of Journey Community Church. 

Bowling, raffles, face painting, live music, hand-made crafts, silent auction, live art, and a Kids Corner were among the activities. One of the bands that played, “Woolly Mammoth”, came all the way from Liverpool, England. Check out http://woollymammothmusic.com.

Dani-Jo Hill, one of the camp leaders, participated in an interview with ECM.  Hill has been to Haiti over the past two years. Last year, 30 community members put together a summer camp for 150 children in Haiti.  The camp is for young Haitian children in the community that the church has supported, and not all of the kids are victims in human trafficking. 

“This specific event raises money for college-age people to get to Haiti to set up a summer camp,” said Hill, who felt called to help out kids that were involved in human trafficking. This camp “helps [people] to see kids in a different way.”

While at the camp, children receive positive attention and two meals a day. Also, each child is seen by a doctor.

Journey Community Church has also helped clean up the park.  “It’s kind of known as being a troubled spot,” noted Hill, who said she personally has become friends with transient youths and others in the park. “It brings light to what’s known as a darker place. Last year, two people we met down here came to Haiti. Every Wednesday, we offer people in the area a home cooked meal, we read Scripture, and they can take a shower.”

This all came together unexpectedly. “It was kind of a random idea,” Hill explained. “We’re helping kids here on the streets in La Mesa, and helping kids on the streets in Haiti.”

The camp started out “originally with 60 kids. Last year, there were 158 kids and 26 leaders. This year, we want to add additional kids. We give them a soccer jersey and shoes. The kids are put in small groups of six to eight kids with a leader.”

Another fundraiser was Friday May 3. “The biggest event [was] at UCSD University Art Gallery with live performances and a film screening with clips taken of last year. This event help[ed] Haitians create small businesses as well as send leaders to the camp,” said Hill. UC San Diego promoted the film showing on their campus.

Donations can be mailed to Journey Community Church, 8863 Center Drive # 6c, La Mesa 91942. If you write a check, write “send New Format to Haiti” on the memo.

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/newformat?fref=ts

 


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