DSC establishes Ecuador Relief Committee

The Dominica State College (DSC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has established a DSC Ecuador Relief Committee which will raise funds to assist the South American country which was affected by an earthquake earlier this month.

Activities on planned by the committee a radiothon, Ecuador T-Shirt Day, a relief day and a crowdfunding activity.

Presently 37 teachers from Ecuador are currently pursuing a seven-month course in English at the Dominica State College (DSC) and
Coordinator of the DSC International Program, Ellena Bowers, underscored the students’ willingness to help their homeland.

DSC President, Dr. Donald Peters, encouraged all DSC students to bring non-perishable food items, water, and other necessities, or to make monetary donations.

“We are launching a major effort to gather water, canned foods, non-perishable food to send to the people of Ecuador. In quick-time, our students themselves are required to bring canned foods and water to the college, beginning next week. The process is ongoing,” he noted. “We are going to solicit cash for those who haven’t got the time to donate food. We have an account at National Bank [of Dominica], so people can make donations to the relief effort.”

Peters stated that everyone on-island is invited to join the effort, and enlisted the aid of other schools.

“Everyone in Dominica is invited to help—doesn’t matter how small it is,” he said. “We expect schools to help.”

On Friday April 29, 2016, students at DSC are invited to wear shirts in the colours of the Ecuadorian flag (yellow, blue, and red) and make a contribution of $2 to the relief effort.

Saturday, April 30, has been dubbed Ecuador Relief Day by the committee.

“On Saturday morning, from eight o’clock, we will have the DSC Ambassadors, which are the local students, and we will have the Ecuadorian students. They will be in groups, and they will go to the different supermarkets… and they will be there to collect cash or goods from the patrons of the supermarkets,” Bowers explained. “They will also provide some entertainment at each supermarket for about twenty minutes to half an hour.”

The committee hopes to set up an online account to receive donations, and have organized a radiothon with state-owned DBS Radio.

Additionally, the proceeds from a Top Glove Boxing Club’s first international match will be put toward the Ecuador Relief Fund.

On April 16, Ecuador was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, on the central coast, near the towns of Manabi, Guayas, and Esmeralda. The hardest hit province was the coastal province of Manabi.

More than 600 persons were killed, over 2,500 injured, and another 58 recorded missing.