UH students help orphanage in Malawi
By Melissa Chua, Kacie Miura and Stacy Stout

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After an exhausting three-day trek across the globe, Johnny Lombardi, a junior at UH Manoa, arrived in Malawi, a tiny landlocked country in sub-Saharan Africa.  Despite having to ride six airplanes to get there, Lombardi was excited to meet the children at the Grace of God Orphanage, where he would spend his summer vacation.

Lombardi’s friend, UH Manoa student Kristie Campbell, has been sending her babysitting paychecks to the Malawian orphanage’s 114 children for the past two years.

Campbell first visited the orphanage four years ago with an American organization.  Two years later, Macdonard Katuya, the director of the orphanage, informed her of the orphanage’s desperate need for financial aid.
           
Campbell and her boyfriend, Trever Duarte, decided last year to go to Malawi on their own to deliver about 300 pounds of school supplies and clothes purchased with money donated from their church. 

“When my boyfriend and I first arrived, we thought that we could just drop off the donations, buy food for the orphans and then return back to our normal lives in Hawaii,” she said. 
           
But my life had changed at that very moment because I wanted to do everything I could to support the orphans, she added.
           
Campbell said that after returning from Malawi, she continued to send Katuya money. 

“I would Western Union whatever money I could make as a nanny, and donations from other people to help support these 100 orphans,” she said.  “Although it was not much, it was more than they had.”

In early 2007, Campbell’s best friend, Nina Brav, a UH Hilo student, started the REVO movement. 

“The purpose of REVO was to educate people about the social injustices in this world and to inspire people to do something,” Campbell said.

Campbell has been working with REVO to fundraise for the Grace of God Orphanage.  Lombardi, who has been active in the development of REVO, was inspired by Campbell’s work in Malawi. 

“I admire her heart and courage and her willingness to do what she does,” he said.

“When she came back to Hawaii, she told me all about it, and I said I wanted to go back with her,” Lombardi said.  “I never traveled out of the country, but I felt a calling in my heart.” 

Lombardi said that before he knew it, he was on his way to Malawi with Campbell and Duarte. 

“I couldn’t believe I was in Africa,” Lombardi said, recalling the mixed emotions of fear and excitement he felt upon arriving in Malawi.

He remembered driving through rolling hills of tall grass that swayed in the African winter wind to reach the village where the orphanage is located.

Lombardi, Campbell and Duarte pose with a child from the Grace of God Orphanage in Malawi.

Lombardi said he was shocked when he first arrived at the orphanage, not only because it lacked electricity and running water, but also because the orphans knew how to say ‘Aloha’ and do the ‘shaka.’

“When I got to the village, I noticed that the people would just hug you and shake your hand and smile,” Lombardi said.  “They were so welcoming.”

Children would gather around him and call out: “Azungu, Azungu!”  This was their way of greeting foreigners, he said.

“Skin color is so powerful,” he said.  “They automatically think you’re rich.”

Lombardi said that upon arrival, he went with Campbell and Duarte to buy the orphans blankets, basins, books and food with the money raised by REVO. Some of the money also went to constructing a building to house 40 orphans.  But due to a lack of funds, the roof has not been completed.

During the month he was there, Lombardi said he played games with the children and performed minor medical services, such as treating small wounds and applying cream for ringworm infections. In return for his services, Lombardi said the orphans gave him a renewed appreciation for life in Hawaii.

“The experience definitely humbled me,” Lombardi said. “We need to step out of our lives and see the big picture.” 

The orphans in Malawi need our help because their government does not provide them with funds, he said.

Lombardi modeled for a music, fashion and art show that REVO hosted on the Big Island in April 2007.  The show raised $6,000 for the Grace of God Orphanage. 

REVO uses Myspace to showcase local art and educate people about social injustices around the world.  The movement has spread to cities throughout the U.S., including Baton Rouge, Las Vegas, New York and Nashville. 

“I have also started a sponsorship program of people in Hawaii being able to choose and sponsor one of the orphans,” Campbell said. 

Interested sponsors can email Campbell at sheenaca@hawaii.edu or refer to her Myspace at www.myspace.com/ graceofgodorphanage to view individual photos of the orphans.  Campbell said donations will help to provide meals for the orphans. 

REVO plans to host another art, fashion and music show on the Big Island on Dec. 29, 2007.  For information on how to get involved with REVO, contact Nina Brav at www.myspace.com/revooflove.

Question & Answer:  Facts Sheet *What is REVO? REVO is a movement aimed to increase awareness about social injustices in Africa as well as elsewhere in the world.  REVO, short for “revolution,” helps raise money for organizations that support communities suffering from poverty, hunger, violence, and social and economic inequalities.  REVO hosts music, art and fashion shows to raise money to support these organizations and educate people about the causes the organizations focus on. *Who is involved? REVO was developed by Nina Brav, a 20-year-old photography major from the Big Island.  She hosted REVO’s first event in Hilo in April 2007.  Since then, volunteers from Tennessee, Louisiana, New York, Pennsylvania and Nevada have joined Brav in spreading the REVO movement via benefit shows featuring artwork, fashion and musical performances.  Brav hopes REVO will reach all 50 states by 2010. *How do you get involved? Contact Nina Brav at www.myspace.com/revooflove for step-by-step guidelines on how to start your own REVO movement.  You can also reach Brav at nina@startarevo.org.