Pacers tickets, artwork, gift certificates, jewelry and even a guitar – rumored to include lessons – are some of the items up for bidding today as a part of “Are You REDI?”
“Are You REDI?” is a silent auction taking place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday in the Traditions Lounge. Money raised will go toward adding a third room to a school building in Manabí, a part of rural, coastal Ecuador.
The Rural Ecuador Development Initiative (REDI) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) and the brainchild of USI Assistant Professor of Anthropology Daniel Bauer.
Bauer, president and project coordinator of REDI, said the project began with a box of used Spanish books in 2004.
“The focus (of REDI) is on rural educational development, and the first thing is to empower people,” Bauer said. “Empower them to create positive change. I think education, in large part, is the best way to do that. Everybody benefits from educational support.”
Most schools in the Manabí area are underfunded and lack materials and resources for students.
REDI started with Bauer’s research in Ecuador, where he lived on and off for 30 months, and he said it happened “without intent” when the community asked him to help local schools. After years of informal support, Bauer finalized the foundation in 2010, allowing for bigger projects in the community. These included the addition of rooms and restroom facilities to schools that cater to students from first to sixth grade.
The projects done by REDI are requested by the Manabí community. Community members also provide physical labor when they are not working for their own livings.
“They are community driven projects,” Bauer said. “Never have we said, ‘Hey, we think you need something.’ The community provides all the labor, and we’ll provide materials and oversight. They, by providing labor, are active participants in the process and they take ownership in what they’re doing.”
Adding a third room to this particular school will triple the classroom area and will cost around $3500, an amount the silent auction will offset. The school, which REDI has worked with in the past, has seen attendance increase from less than 20 students to 60 students.
Bauer said he hopes the construction project will be complete before April, when classes resume for the school year. The students attend school from April to December.
“The thing I always try to emphasize to people – any little bit helps,” Bauer said. “I know it’s cliche to say that, but a dollar goes further in Ecuador. Give up your cup of coffee for a day. If 20 people do that, there is a teacher’s monthly salary.”
Bauer said he hopes to take USI students with him to Ecuador to volunteer, but funding is too unpredictable. Bauer will attend “Are You REDI?” and answer questions students may have.
Ellen Topper, international studies interim director, teaches the international studies capstone course in charge of “Are You REDI?” Topper said the event was fully organized by her students, most of which are international studies majors.
“I didn’t want the project to be as I envisioned it,” Topper said. “I really wanted them to be able to use their skills and unique talents, and push the boundaries even further than what they thought they could do. They’re a generation that can mobilize people.”
Topper said she is really proud of her students’ hard work and determination, and she looks forward to seeing their silent auction.
“I don’t want it to sound so trite but one person, or a group of people – who are dedicated to making something happen, who work and persevere – they can make an impact beyond their immediate world,” Topper said. “Sometimes it’s not just the person with millions and millions of dollars.”
Senior Molly Konkle, one of the international studies majors in Topper’s class, said one of the critical issues for “Are You REDI?” was marketing, a task most of the students had to tackle.
“I think it’s a great way to involve college campuses and feel like you’re actually doing something,” Konkle said. “I wanted (college to be) something more hands on. This is a great way to bridge the gap between college and professional life because we’re actually going out in the community, doing things and seeing results.”
Konkle said USI students can learn how to reach out to the community through service. She said she is proud to work with Bauer.
“Start small – no one is asking you to change everyone’s mind,” Konkle said. “Doing what you can to step up to the plate definitely helps. Not getting discouraged when not everything goes smoothly helps too. It hasn’t been without bumps in the road, but it’s definitely going to be worth it in the end.”
