United Nations Recognizes I.S. for Poverty Relief Work

International Samaritan (I.S.) was granted Special Consultative Status from the United Nations earlier this month, recognized by the UN as an important voice in issues pertaining to poverty relief.


“We are privileged to join with the United Nations and other NGOs in the fight to help alleviate severe poverty in developing countries,” said I.S. Founder and President Fr. Don Vettese, S.J.


I.S. was awarded consultative status for its role in helping the UN work toward achieving the following Millennium Goals: eradicating extreme hunger and poverty, achieving universal primary education, promoting equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating diseases, and developing global partnerships for development.


I.S. is the only nonprofit in the world whose work is focused on garbage dump communities. Hundreds of thousands of people live in garbage dump squalor across the globe. According the UN statistics, I.S. serves some of the most poverty-stricken people on the earth.


“There are many people who have never heard about the garbage dump dwellers, the children forced to dig through trash for food, and entire families living in garbage dumps with rats, vultures, and pigs. These places do exist. We hope, in some small way, this status will give voice to those who have no voice,” said Vettese.


I.S. representatives will be granted passes to UN meetings, able to speak at designated UN sessions, and have certain documents circulated as official UN documents. They will also have the opportunity to be a part of a larger NGO community for the purposes of information-sharing and partnering on poverty relief programs.


“There is so much good that can be accomplished if we open our minds and hearts to work with those in need who are fighting for a life with dignity and hope,” said Vettese. “We invite everyone to join us by volunteering on one of our service trips, donating to our poverty relief programs, and praying for us and those we serve.”


To learn more about International Samaritan, go to http://www.intsamaritan.org/.

Millennium Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty

Millennium Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education

Millennium Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Marlaria and other diseases

I.S. School Celebrates New Seventh Grade Classrooms

Students check out their new seventh grade classrooms.


Matt Ippel, I.S. trip leader, is pictured with San Pedro Sula Mayor Dr. Juan Carlos Zuniga at the classroom dedication. Ippel described the dedication as "a very emotional event for a lot of us." Volunteer Katherine Major-Campsie said, "I felt like we were a part of something very special for the people [of Ocotillo]."



The classroom plaque commemorates all of the volunteer groups who helped with the construction this year. It reads: Special thanks to the volunteers who came from the U.S., Gannon University, Pennsylvania; Kappa Alpha Order, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio; St. Charles Preparatory School, Ohio; University of Detroit High School, Michigan.



Last year, more than 50 children were unable to attend school in Ocotillo. As the population of the garbage dump community grows, so do the needs at International Samaritan’s School. Without an education, the children will have few choices; many will end up working in the garbage dump the rest of their lives.


Wilmur Antonio Pared, vice mayor of Ocotillo, confirms that many of the scavengers are children between the ages of 10 and 14. He estimates that 16 have died in recent years after getting run over by bulldozers.


“The new classrooms will give the children of Ocotillo a real chance at a life outside of working at the garbage dump,” said Carmen Martinez, school principal, who was thrilled with the finished rooms. "This will be a huge advantage for these kids."


The average level of education in Honduras is sixth grade. I.S. is planning to build new eighth grade classrooms next year and ninth grade classrooms in 2013. We are currently looking for funding for the two new eighth grade classrooms. The school is also in need of donations for supplies, desks, books, and the school lunch program. To donate, go here or call 734-222-0701.


I.S. is looking for high school and university groups to partner with on this project. Please contact apawuk@intsamaritan.org to learn more about volunteering in 2012, or go to www.intsamaritan.org.

U of D - Building Walls and Relationships

Timothy Moore and Matt Grabowski get a hand from the construction manager Don Wilfredo's 11-year-old son, Jose Luis.


Carson McGuire


Front (l-r) Timothy Moore, Robert Ress, Michael Ponkowski, Joe Myers; back (l-r) Ian McEachern and Pat Vecellio


John Philo


Robert Ress

Blog by Josh Roth (class of 2012, U of D Jesuit), currently serving in Ocotillo, Honduras.

San Pedro Sula, Honduras is a city in the world where faith, family, and work are the three critical things that make up an average life. Coming to San Pedro Sula was a totally new experience for me, as well as for the rest of my classmates, and we were not sure what to expect of the experience to unfold for us. As a group, we were unsure of how the food would taste. We were wrong. Here at the retreat house in the suburbs of San Pedro we are treated with great care and are fed repetitive yet delicious food each and every day. The meat at every meal is spectacular and the fruit that we are given is fresh. Corn tortillas are served at every meal and are the most common side dish in Central America. As food goes, the meals are simple yet delicious.

The mission work that my classmates and I are doing is strenuous yet rewarding in every way. The mason that we work with, Don Wilfredo, is skilled in his profession and is thankful that we are working with him. We work from nine o’clock in the morning until four o’clock in the afternoon. The time that we are there we are in the process of making a seventh grade classroom. Each and every hour each of us works hard to finish the classroom. Although we will not finish the classroom, we know that the work that we have done will help the children of El Ocotillo.

Today I experienced the nursery of El Ocotillo and the children that are there. The moment that I walked in the children were more than excited to see us. Every moment that we were there each and every kid wanted to play with us in any way we could. The children were happy we were there and the smiles that were on their face were unforgettable.

Blog by Timothy Moore (class of 2012, U of D Jesuit), currently serving in the garbage dump community of Ocotillo, Honduras.

Today was our second full day of service in Honduras. Coming to Honduras, I was not sure what the security situation would be like or even how the locals would react to us. We have had security at our sides this whole time, and I feel like the locals love having us here.

Waking up this morning to the wonderful pancakes and sausage that the ladies at the retreat center had prepared for us was terrific. This morning, it was pretty difficult waking up because yesterday was such a long day, due to the tough first day work. This morning’s food was by far the best breakfast and lunch, even though the food overall has been good. We have had beans and tortillas for almost every meal, but the ladies here always have a good piece of meat for us, and one morning we had eggs.

Working at the school with all the little kids just brightens my day. The kids make me feel like I have known them for more than just these past few days. It’s incredible how much progress the whole group has made with the work. We have cut down a whole field of about two foot grass with machetes, and have made tremendous progress on two soon to be new classrooms.

I truly couldn’t pick a favorite moment of the day because everything was so wonderful. Working hard in the school grounds and being with all the kids and how they appreciate us is just such a sight to see. Being around people who have so little, but you would never know it from their personalities, is such an eye-opener and great experience.

For more information about International Samaritan, visit www.intsamaritan.org.