International Justice Mission is celebrating its 10th anniversary this semester by putting awareness into action during Justice Week.
Justice Week, which will run from March 1-6, is an annual weeklong event that includes Chapel forums, prayer tents and an involvement fair. This year, it will also feature the following nonprofit organizations: Eternal Threads, Wishing Well, ACU for Fair Trade, Student Peace Alliance, International Rescue Committee and Love146.
On March 4, these organizations will set up booths in the McGlothin Campus Center at which students can purchase merchandise and learn how to become actively involved in the organizations’ global causes.
Tim Wise, author of White Like Me, and Wayne Barnard, an IJM staff member, will serve as speakers during the week.
“It is important for students to come to the events with an open mind because some of the things they will be hearing and seeing will inspire them to get involved,” said Colleen Ashley, acting president of IJM and junior political science major from Pago Pago, American Samoa.
Linda Egle, director and founder of Eternal Threads is enthusiastic about the involvement fair. Her organization will be selling items such as slings bags and other popular merchandise from Nepal. They will also feature a new bracelet, “Red Thread,” designed by Egle and a group of ACU students, with help from women in Nepal.
“It will give the rescued girls [in Nepal] some income,” Egle said.
Egle looks forward to being back on the ACU campus because students are always eager to participate.
“[The ACU students] are wonderful,” Egle said. “They really get what we’re doing.”
Ashley Close, ACU’s IJM secretary, believes the involvement fair is a great way to donate to international causes.
“You know you are not just wasting all of your money,” said Close, freshman political science major from Lexington, S.C.
IJM is a human rights agency based in Washington, D.C.; ACU’s chapter, led by students, was the first university chapter in the country. It strives to raise awareness and inform students of ways they can help solve world issues.
“IJM is the most sincere and transparent organization,” Close said.
For more information on the Justice Week Chapel forums, visit www.acu.edu/campusoffices/chapel/forums.html.
