The Humanitarians at RVCC is a club which provides a space for RVCC students to come together to explore and address human rights issues. They aim to promoting awareness, understanding, compassion towards the suffering of others, and encouraging active community participation in combating bigotry and hate through social action. I got a chance to interview the co-presidents, Katie Watkins and Tanaya Dhumale and the advisor, Michelle Edgar of the Humanitarians at RVCC.
Edgar says that she opened the club because of the work she does at the college. She told The Record, “It would be a great way to spread awareness about past genocides and what we can do today to help.”
Watkins added, “To know that we can make a difference living in this area is an opportunity we didn’t want to miss. I wanted to give back to the community and this was a great way to start.” Dhumale brings up that the event that brought them in was when they watched a film on the Cambodian Genocide. She recalled that it was a great film and they had a heartfelt discussion after it and from then on they kept coming back. She exclaims that she felt that ‘She was actually doing something’.
Watkins and Dhumale believe it’s important for people to know how they can take small steps in order to make big changes in the lives of others. It is a great way to network, they work with people both locally and globally. They are for now helping a family of 12 from Syria, collecting resources in order to help them fit in. There is also a book drive, where one can donate children’s books to the family. They are also currently looking for volunteers who could help the family learn English and get educational and job opportunities.
The Humanitarians at RVCC meet every Thursday during college hour in the library’s 2nd floor Genocide center (l-212).
