Tapas Night will take place at 6 p.m. at United Campus Ministries, 18 N. College St., with an entry fee of $5 to benefit two Latin American charities, Mission Emanuel and Semilla Nueva.
Mission Emanuel is a charity based in the Dominican Republic that provides school supplies and uniforms for impoverished children. The Spanish Club is sponsoring a boy, Julian Sosa Torres, so that he is not denied an education.
“I went to the Dominican Republic freshman year on behalf of Mission Emanuel, “ said Sarah Volpenhein, club president and a senior studying journalism. “We worked primarily in marginalized neighborhoods in the capital city Santo Domingo. It’s important because the Dominican government only spends 2.2 percent of its GDP on education, and even then it’s not the best quality.”
Tapas, which are Latin American finger foods, will be served at the event in large amounts. Organizers want to emphasize that, although it’s “finger-food,” there will be plenty to eat.
They have worked with local restaurants — primarily Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery — to make sure nobody’s bellies are left empty, Volpenhein said.
The night will include a musical performance and folklore recitation representative of Latin American culture.
Proceeds will also benefit Semilla Nueva (“new seed”), an organization based in Guatemala that works to promote sustainable agriculture among farmers.
Kara Frisina, club member and a junior studying commercial photography, said the biggest problem in Guatemala is soil. In past decades, foreign companies have given Guatemalan farmers hybrid seeds to plant. Unfortunately, these hybrids destroy soil and render land barren and useless.
The organization provides organic seeds and strives to teach compost techniques, nutritional facts and sustainable methods. As the old adage goes, giving a person food feeds them for a day, but teaching them how to get food feeds them for life.
“They don’t want to just throw money at people, that doesn’t help in the long run,” Frisina said. “It’s communal. There are only six full-time members and they each live with the families they’re helping. It’s a very grass-roots approach, and I’ve watched its success.”
Frisina spent a summer in Guatemala working with Semilla Nueva. The club feels very confident supporting the charities’ efforts because these groups emphasize progressive and long-lasting positive change, and both have personal significance to many club members.
Javier Ronquillo, a second year Ph.D student studying mathematics, plans to perform a few songs on guitar and present some Guatemalan folklore.
“I’m doing this because it’s a good cause,” Ronquillo said. “I’m from Guatemala and it really touches my heart to help; I enjoy being able to share this part of my country here. I just hope people come and get a fun touch of Latin American culture and music, because the institutions we‘re supporting are doing very good work.”
sn002310@ohiou.edu
This article originally appeared in print under the headline "Tapas to raise funds, awareness for causes."
