Lone Star College-North Harris student selected to attend Clinton Global Initiative University Conference

Lone Star College North Harris News

Published on: May 08, 2014 Lone Star College-North Harris student Tara Alcera, recently attended the prestigious Clinton Global Initiative University Conference (CGI U) at Arizona State University, where she represented a health education project that she and her high school classmates created in the southern Philippines.
The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), a program of the Clinton Global Initiative, brings together college students to address global challenges with practical, creative solutions. CGI U participants do more than simply discuss problems they take concrete steps to solve them by creating action plans, building relationships, participating in hands-on workshops, and following up with CGI U as they complete their projects. Since 2008, students have made more than 4,000 Commitments to Action.
Alcera represented The Berchmans Initiative. Named after the Jesuit St. John Berchmans, who preached philanthropy and good deeds, the initiative started when Alcera and her high school classmates saw a need to bring health education and medical attention to impoverished areas of southern Philippines.
Our project, The Berchmans Initiative, is important to me because through it, in my own little way, I am able to be of service to others, said Alcera. I am able to impart what I know, and what I have, to others who, sadly, might never even have such things. When you help someone, you get this great sense of accomplishment. I've never felt anything like it. It's a wonderful feeling.
Alcera and her classmates founded the group in 2012, recruited volunteers and sought partnerships with medical professionals and health agencies in the Philippines. Their almost-quarterly projects have included health seminars, hygiene packet distributions, medical treatment and disbursement of nutritious food for more than 200 women and children in the towns of Lunzuran, San Jose Gusu and Mercedes of Zamboanga City.  
This project was something my high school classmates and I came up with, said Alcera. Basically, we all grew up in ...

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