We are a group of 60 students from Virginia Tech participating in a semester long study abroad program about creating sustainable social change. Our first weeks are spent taking classes on international development and social change in Switzerland. In November, we will travel to Rwanda or Ethiopia to participate in experiential learning projects with non-profit organizations.
This year, we are highlighting our partner organization OPDE Rwanda. OPDE, located in Huye, Rwanda, provides support for children facing abandonment with programs to combat malnutrition, improve child literacy, and ensure protection of children against all forms of neglect, cruelty, exploitation, sexual abuse, and discrimination. For more information on the programs they provide, please visit their website, www.opderwanda.org.
On October 24, our study abroad group will be participating in a Talent Show, Hokies for Huye, to raise funds for OPDE. We’ve set a funding goal of $5,000 to support OPDE's work. There are currently 18 acts for the talent show, but only the 10 acts that raise the most money will perform on the day of the event! For our act, David Christianson, Andy Bonett, and Jeremy Tidman will be collaborating on the infamous Roxanne Challenge. These legends will stand tall as the song Roxanne by The Police and each time the artists sing the word "Roxanne" each contestant eats a single marshmallow, and each time the artists project the phrase "red light" the brave contenders take a sip of Coca-Cola. This will inevitably lead the three young men to shoveling horrendously sickening amounts of marshmallows and coke into their mouths as a profound and powerful song plays in the background. If this sounds like something you'd like to see streamed live on the internet, while also supporting an incredible and life-changing NGO, then please feel free to donate to this page! All the winning acts will be recorded and posted to the Linking Lives Instagram. Please consider donating! I/We would love to perform and support such an amazing organization!
Any contribution is appreciated! Thank you for your interest and support!
