Baobab Auction Raises Over 12,000 Swiss Francs
11/20/2007
The Baobab initiative organizes another successful event to support the Zambian village.
The Franklin College community has rich resources that can come to life in a truly memorable way, as happened on November 3, 2007, in the Franklin College Auditorium, when an auction sponsored by the Baobab Initiative, a nonprofit group formed by Franklin students, was able to raise CHF 12,000 in support of the Mathias Makumba Village in Eastern Province, Zambia.
Over 200 students and members of the administration and faculty attended the fundraiser, which hosted an all-you-can-eat buffet, open bar and over 60 items and services provided by Franklin students, faculty and staff. The silent auction at the beginning of the evening, which offered African art and donated items for minimum bids, raised over CHF 1,200. There was also a raffle which included prizes such as a Grand African Safari: a seven-day trip through Johannesburg, Kruger National Park and Swaziland.
After a live performance by Franklin's own Music Club, the auditorium became a place of laughter and competition as students, faculty and staff raised their paddles to outbid each other for services donated in the Human Auction. Dinners to be provided by Professor Anne Flutti, a central figure in the Baobab Initiative, and Leslie Guggiari, Dean of Students, raised CHF 3,000 collectively and went to two separate students. Franklin College senior, Jake Wiborg, acted as the auctioneer for the event. “The amount of support and attendance we had was amazing,” exclaimed Financial Officer Phil Hirth.
As a result of the extremely successful evening, the Baobab Initiative is now planning future projects that will strategically and efficiently utilize its newly acquired funds. These include payment of school fees in January, increased agricultural input for the village and surrounding community, sponsorship of furthering education for village students and construction of a new classroom at Mphata Primary, the local school that many village children attend. “Aid by means of giving addresses only the symptoms of the problem while aid by means of empowerment addresses the problem directly,” explains student Mary Demaio, an active member of the Initiative, and this indeed is the goal the Baobab Initiative seeks to pursue. It works to help others help themselves.
The Baobab Initiative is also looking forward to many on-campus projects that will continue to raise awareness in the Franklin College community. Another event is in the works for next semester, as is an informational forum. The Initiative will continue to provide services such as Burrito Days that also raise funds for the project. “It is wonderful to be able to give back to the Franklin community through the events and services we have, with the ultimate goal of helping those in the village,” says Coordinator Chelsea Keeton.
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