Rock Bridge, Hickman high schools partner to help Haiti

COLUMBIA — Students at Rock Bridge and Hickman high schools are coming together to raise awareness about Haiti and relief efforts.

The fundraiser will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Rock Bridge High School Planetarium. It will raise funds for Doctors Without Borders, an international medical humanitarian organization, and Partners In Health, a non-profit health organization which has had a clinic in Haiti since 1985.

Sandra Beldor, a native of Haiti and nurse at University Hospital, and Valerie Kaussen, author and professor at MU who was in Haiti at the time of the earthquake, will also be speaking at the event.

The students' efforts to raise money and awareness stem from their involvement in an after-school program, Global Issues Club. Generally, the club members learn about different global ideas, but are taking time off to focus on Haiti, said Nadege Uwase, director of Global Issues Leadership Development.

The clubs, sponsored by GILD, aim to promote change and increase education on human rights issues.

"Our community is really, really giving," Uwase said. "We want to give them the opportunity to donate."

An earthquake struck the island nation over a month ago on Jan. 12. Over 200,000 deaths have been reported.