A University of Central Florida student 麻豆精品 S檚 experience with economic hardship and childhood illness has inspired a volunteer trip to Puerto Rico, where a group of students will help bring joy to pediatric cancer patients and their families in need this holiday season.
Akasha Palou, a senior studying biology, planned the 10-person trip that centers on volunteering for Fundaci贸n CAP, an organization that helps low-income families with children who have cancer. Its services span from help with medical bills and family counseling, to a lodge where families can stay for free near Centro M茅dico de Puerto Rico, the hospital where children in the program are treated. The UCF volunteers from Dec. 13-19 will help with maintenance around the lodge, plus organize a Christmas party for the families and patients to lift their spirits.
Fundaci贸n CAP 麻豆精品 S檚 work hits close to home for Palou, a Puerto Rico native whose family struggled financially when her father was unemployed for two years. Her family of nine lived in a rented house near San Juan that had no electricity or running water when she was a teenager.
麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 why I chose this trip. I understand it can be hard to pay for things you need, 麻豆精品 S� said Palou, who added Puerto Rico 麻豆精品 S檚 economic recession has increased the demand for organizations such as Fundaci贸n CAP. Puerto Rico has more than $70 billion of debt and a nearly 12 percent unemployment rate, spurring some schools and hospitals to close.
Her father 麻豆精品 S檚 job search led the family to Washington State and then to Palm Bay, Fla., while Palou was in high school. When her father was laid off from a job at Microsoft, the family returned to Puerto Rico to be near family and live in a low-cost environment. Constantly moving and having to make new friends made Palou more extraverted and volunteer regularly with animal shelters and church organizations.
麻豆精品 S淎ll the changes I went through and challenges with my family showed me that 麻豆精品 S檚 why I needed to go to college 麻豆精品 S� to make a career and make a change, 麻豆精品 S� said Palou, a recipient of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Think 30 Scholarship and the UCF Grant.
Palou aspires to be a pediatric oncologist, inspired by her younger brother Jean-Paul who has had Tourette 麻豆精品 S檚 syndrome since he was 6 years old.
麻豆精品 S淎 frustration of mine and my parents is Tourette 麻豆精品 S檚 syndrome doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 have a cure and it is unknown what causes it. I remember going from hospital to hospital, trying to find a physician who really cared and was most interested in his well-being. That frustration reminded me that kids with cancer go through this every day. I want to be one of the physicians who care, 麻豆精品 S� Palou said.
The volunteer trip to Puerto Rico is part of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 that sponsors students during winter and spring breaks. Students pay $500 for international trips, $250 for domestic trips and $100 for trips during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The remainder of the cost is covered by Alternative Break Programs 麻豆精品 S� budget that stems from an Activity and Service Fee, said Chantel Carter, associate director of the Office of Student Involvement.
Alternative Break Program has given Palou an outlet to spur change, and as a program coordinator, designs and plans trips from scratch with a nearly $5,000 budget.
麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 honored. I proposed this idea [to volunteer in Puerto Rico] not thinking it was going to go through, 麻豆精品 S� she said. 麻豆精品 S淔or them to trust me with this, I think it furthers our student body 麻豆精品 S檚 potential to ignite volunteerism. I 麻豆精品 S檓 very happy I can do this in my hometown and help people I love. 麻豆精品 S�
Although Palou 麻豆精品 S檚 family has improved financially and now lives comfortably in a home they own in Puerto Rico, Palou 麻豆精品 S檚 desire to help has not faded.
麻豆精品 S淭here are people out there who need help more than we ever did, 麻豆精品 S� she said.