Some clubs at OVS compete for titles, like Robotics, while others provide learning experiences to students, like “Adulting 101.” But few school clubs provide a stronger sense of gratitude and community than that of junior Megan Manion’s Zanmi Club, which is a community service opportunity that helps women in Haiti.
How does this club contribute? Well, it’s as simple as giving the shirt off your back.
Before the group started meeting, Megan asked the student body during morning meetings to donate shirts to help women in Haiti. She set up a basket in the courtyard and waited for the donations to pile in.
Soon, the basket started filling up.
The student support didn’t stop at the donation stage, however. When it was time for the Zanmi Club to meet, a large group of students showed up, piling on the couches and chairs in the girls’ lounge in the Village.
“We [had] about 15 people [come to the meetings] and for a school with like a hundred kids, that’s kind of a lot to come,” Megan said.
During meetings, students watched videos explaining what it is like to live in Haiti, while cutting shirts into strips. Senior Lucy Orgolini truly appreciated the learning experience and is glad to be a part of something that means so much.
“Haiti Club was a great opportunity to both learn about the Haitian culture and what these women were going through and then be able to do something about it,” Lucy said. “It felt fulfilling to know that we were doing something that could help the women who so desperately need it.”
Once all the shirts are cut up, Megan will send the strips to Haiti, where the women can weave them into baskets.
The women will then send the baskets back to Megan, who will then sell them. The group should start selling them around October 2019. On top of weaving baskets, the women will also sew little dolls from the extra fabric, which will also be available for purchase.
This club is a great way for students to help out, but it doesn’t only affect OVS students. All the money that is made will be sent back to the women in Haiti, so they can use it for whatever they need.
“These women have really felt that it’s therapeutic… earning money for their families,” Megan said.
Megan had a similar club at her old school and the impact it had was so great she decided to bring it to OVS. She’s excited to see where it goes and is overjoyed with how many students have already helped out.
“It’s crazy, I thought I would only have a couple students joining and we ended up having 17 students spend countless days helping cut the t-shirts,” Megan said. “They’re all-in, passionate about helping.”