The student organization, Peaceworkers, has been making a difference on Ball State University's campus since it first began in 2001. Although the organization seemed to disappear over the past few years when the founders graduated in 2002, it's making a strong comeback, armed with a leadership team determined to make a difference.
Third-year political science major Maggie Sobotka, co-president, became interested in the organization after taking Dr. George Wolfe's "Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies" class.
"Peaceworkers is important to me because it gives me an outlet to make a difference in people's lives in our community and on an international level." Sobotka said.
The members of Peaceworkers have teamed up with Bibi Bahrami, founder of Afghan Women and Kids Education and Necessities (AWAKEN) in a fundraiser to improve the quality of life for women and children in Afghanistan. Bahrami, born and raised for a large portion of her life in Afghanistan, knows how difficult it can be for poor women and children to survive.
Peaceworkers distributed donation forms to all of the organizations on campus Tuesday. The sponsor options include sponsoring one child for $15 or sponsoring a whole family for $50. Though Peaceworkers hopes to get donations before Christmas, there is no deadline for the donations, so money will be accepted after Winter Break and into the spring. The ongoing effort by Peaceworkers will make a significant difference to the people in Afghanistan, Sobotka said.
The $15 donated to children will buy school supplies, contribute to maintenance of their schools and provide support to families if the students decide to pursue their educations. The families need as many incomes as possible, so the children are often forced to have jobs at young ages instead of going to school.
A donation of $50 will provide emergency assistance to families. It will help them buy fuel to heat their homes and cook, and it will provide medicine, nutritional food and clothing. A portion of the money will go toward the Women's Vocational Center, a place for women to go and learn skills necessary to provide for their families. At the center, women are taught how to make crafts or clothing to sell as a source of income.
"Under the Taliban, women were not allowed to be educated and not often allowed out of the house," Sobotka said. "Now that many of their husbands have been killed in fighting with the Taliban or by suicide bombers, these women have no way to support their families."
The fundraiser is not limited to members of organizations, and people unaffiliated with campus organizations are also encouraged to donate. Any amounts of money will be accepted, and Bahrami ensures that all donations are going directly to the people in need.
Sobotka has seen the need for help through the extensive traveling she's done throughout her life. Through Peaceworkers, Sobotka hopes to make a difference on an international level by increasing levels of awareness and inspiring people to help.
"I don't expect to change everything overnight," Sobotka said. "But if I can raise awareness of issues and make people see the world outside of themselves, then I think that is a good start."
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