As summer is quickly approaching, many International Service Projects teams are finding creative ways to raise funds for their trips around the world.
One team came up with the idea to craft handmade jewelry to raise awareness for their trip, which has been beneficial in more than one way.
Niza Patimukay, senior graphic design major, saw the benefits of this fundraiser in her life and her ISP team.
She and her team were able to form bonds with each other while making handmade jewelry reflecting the culture of the country they will be traveling to. Patimukay and her team will travel to South Asia to particapate in women’s outreach.
Her team makes handmade earrings, necklaces and bracelets for fundraising with mehndi designs on them. Mehndi is an art form mostly practiced in South Asia that uses henna paste to dye the skin.
Inspiration for the mehndi jewelry came from Patimukay’s team leader, Kimberly Stephans, a graduate assistant in the Mobilization Office, who also lived in South Asia for two years.
Stephans came up with the idea of putting mehndi designs on colorful jewelry as a business to help women who have been trapped in sex trafficking and prostitution.
“In the future, I hope to take this to South Asia (to help sex trafficking victims) so they can have a trade and start a business to support themselves,” Stephans said.
To make the jewelry, smaller groups within the team have been assigned a certain step of the process. One group paints the necklaces or bracelets a certain color, while the other group drills a hole to put the parts together. After the group assembles everything, the last group designs the mehndi.
Stephans said her team has already made $200 since starting the fundraiser. The team’s jewelry will be at the World Bazaar at the Night of Nations on March 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Van Dyne Gymnasium.
“I have seen God’s hand not just through the fundraising, but the whole ISP experience,” Patimukay said. “You can put your faith out there, let the Lord just lead.”
Patimukay, Stephans and the rest of the women said they are excited to see what God is going to do this summer.
“Each girl has a different characteristic they bring to the team and we can bring that to South Asia,” Patimukay said. “I see that this is something we can use with the women we will come into contact with.”
