The Service for Peace Club at the University of Bridgeport hosted a service project on September 11th, focusing on gathering people from all religious backgrounds to unite in service for the sake of peace. The project was one of many occurring across the nation on that day with the official title, “One Day’s Pay.” This name signifies giving up one day’s worth of pay to help others in need. The project was done at Carstenson Hall, an Interfaith Center for the Catholic, Muslim, Protestant, and Unification Ministries on UB campus. We renovated the 1st and 2nd floors of the building from 9:00 to 3:00, with a 1:00 lunch/discussion about the most positive and meaningful way to commemorate the 9/11 tragedy. Over a platter of fresh pizza, we shared experiences we’ve had with impacting someone’s life through service, and heard many deep experiences.
Overall we came through with a sense of determination that through service to others, we can truly build an ideal, peaceful world, and that this conviction was only strengthened by “One Day’s Pay.” Around 18 UB students came to volunteer. For some part of the day, most of those 18 stayed three hours after the project had officially finished, and a few stayed until late at night, enthusiastically finishing the paint job for the Mosque on the Second Floor.
Throughout the day, we resolutely scraped, spackled, sanded and painted walls which were peeling with age, and by the end we were all covered in paint chips. We also thoroughly spiffed up the kitchen area, scrubbing from bottom up, and creating a more pleasant place for the different faiths on campus to interact and cook together. “These kind of project are very good, it shows that kind of cooperation between different faiths that we need,” stated Mr. Elleithy, President of the Muslim Saturday Academy in Carstenson Hall, “I would like to see more of this.”
All the ministries greatly appreciated our work, but the students who volunteered had the most to say. Christian Carrillo, a Computer Engineering freshman, remarked, “It’s a good way of showing our effort towards peace by bringing people together. I had a lot of fun, and met a lot of great people. For me, community service is something worthwhile.”
The motto of Service for Peace is “Service and Learning with a Global Peace perspective.” We do many projects at UB and the surrounding community throughout the year. Our next project is planned on another nation-wide day of service, “Make a Difference Day”, October 23rd. If you are interested in joining the club or the next project we host, please call our office at 576-4015, or email us at nbreland@bridgeport.edu. Thank you very much!