"DAILY PILOT" NEWS STORY ON UVI
Students mobilize more tsunami reliefCollege friends say they're determined to stay active in aid work when victims need them the most.
By Elia Powers, Daily Pilot
The news crews, civilian volunteers and aid workers have slowly departed from the devastated areas of Southeast Asia, where throngs of people continue to live without means after December's tsunami.
Michael Simonoff (in photo) and Phillip Bailey have returned from their trips, as well.
But the two college friends said they are determined to stay active in relief work at a time when disaster victims need them the most.
"There are so many people still without housing," said Simonoff, 21, a Costa Mesa High School graduate. "If there were a few hundred thousand people in the United States who were homeless after this kind of disaster, there would be more of an uproar."
Simonoff's discontent is overshadowed these days by his willingness to help steer a long-term relief project run by and for college students.
When the tsunami struck, Simonoff was at home in Southern California. Bailey, his friend from the University of Arizona, was vacationing in Florida with his two brothers.
"We got the feeling that this could have been our beach," Bailey said. "Our idea was to find a realistic way we could help the victims. I thought, there is no organization that helps students to volunteer."
That was the genesis of University Volunteers International, an organization comprising college students across the country and in Sweden.
Bailey, 20, a founding member, approached Simonoff and his friend, former Costa Mesa resident Alexander Stimson, in early January about heading overseas.
It took the group nearly two months to mobilize, but in early March, after setting up an independent study program through the University of Arizona, they left for Sumatra.
The students joined forces with the Electric Lamb Mission, an international volunteer group headed by former professional surfer Rick Cameron. The organization uses converted ferry boats to deliver aid to remote areas hit by the tsunami........ more
Michael Simonoff (in photo) and Phillip Bailey have returned from their trips, as well.
But the two college friends said they are determined to stay active in relief work at a time when disaster victims need them the most.
"There are so many people still without housing," said Simonoff, 21, a Costa Mesa High School graduate. "If there were a few hundred thousand people in the United States who were homeless after this kind of disaster, there would be more of an uproar."
Simonoff's discontent is overshadowed these days by his willingness to help steer a long-term relief project run by and for college students.
When the tsunami struck, Simonoff was at home in Southern California. Bailey, his friend from the University of Arizona, was vacationing in Florida with his two brothers.
"We got the feeling that this could have been our beach," Bailey said. "Our idea was to find a realistic way we could help the victims. I thought, there is no organization that helps students to volunteer."
That was the genesis of University Volunteers International, an organization comprising college students across the country and in Sweden.
Bailey, 20, a founding member, approached Simonoff and his friend, former Costa Mesa resident Alexander Stimson, in early January about heading overseas.
It took the group nearly two months to mobilize, but in early March, after setting up an independent study program through the University of Arizona, they left for Sumatra.
The students joined forces with the Electric Lamb Mission, an international volunteer group headed by former professional surfer Rick Cameron. The organization uses converted ferry boats to deliver aid to remote areas hit by the tsunami........ more
posted by Island Aid at
1:15 pm
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