By Malaina Yoder | Echo
Are you missing the excitement and buzz of Melon and Gourd or Silent Night? Does it seem like months since the last strange themed open house? Taylor traditions are scarce during the winter, and a new one could be just what you need to beat the winter blues. The newest Taylor organization has the potential to become a creative new tradition.
The goal of Justification of Youth (JOY) is finding sponsors for 140 children at a school in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The group, led by sophomore Elyse Horb, would love to start a tradition of sponsorship on Taylor's campus.
"Sponsoring a kid is not something that's prevalent in the college community," Horb said. "But it can be . . . just nobody's done it."
A summer as an intern for the Kids Alive ministry, a sponsorship program, provided Horb's inspiration to begin a partnership between the school in the Dominican Republic and Taylor. College students at Miami University started JOY, and Taylor is the second university to implement it. The organization hopes to catch on at campuses across the country.
While anyone can commit to giving up a few coffees to sponsor a child for $40 a month, Horb's vision goes beyond that.
"I also think that we are going to see wings that come together and sponsor as a wing, and athletes that are going to decide to sponsor as a team," Horb said.
For example, a group of wingmates could decide to sponsor two children. It's a commitment that could pass on to incoming freshman as seniors graduate. The mission wouldn't be restricted to the classes of 2015-18. Rather, it would become another tradition that a wing continues as they correspond with the children that they're helping.
This isn't only about the money. The sponsors can follow up by visiting their sponsored kids in Dominican Republic. For example, the women's tennis team-JOY's first sponsor at Taylor-could take a J-term trip to lead a sports camp and bring equipment to the school.
"We want to not only start this relationship through sponsoring but also through going there in the long term and meeting the kids," Horb said.
Lindy Hart, a junior on the tennis team, is excited to sponsor six-year-old Aaron with her teammates.
"It is a great way for Taylor to get involved and make a difference in the lives of students in need," Hart said. "I feel like the students here have a passion for serving communities, and now we are presented with a clear opportunity to each get involved with impacting a community in the DR."
The group has already started to gain exposure through a Nostalgia Night commercial and a Friday night session at the National Student Leadership Conference. They invite you to join them as they and the Village Tree raise awareness for the cause at a coffeehouse night on March 9.
For more information about JOY: Taylor Inspired or their ministry partner, Kids Alive, stop by Horb's blog, www.elysejanee.wordpress.com or the organization's website, spreadjoynow.org. If you would like to sponsor a child or have any questions, email JOYatTaylor@gmail.com.
