International leadership
MOVE hires new leader for Kolkata trip

Chelsea Thompson | staff writer

Jason Moore, assistant director of Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts (MOVE) at St. Michael’s College, has passed on his role as leader of the international service trip to India to Annie Brabazon, a librarian from South Hero.

Brabazon first became involved with MOVE when she worked at the St. Michael’s library six years ago, she says.

“I’m really glad to be back at St. Michael’s,” Brabazon says. “I just think it’s really a great environment to work in.  College students are so fun to be around.  I’m also glad to be back working in the community service setting.”

Fit for the role

Brabazon, middle, with two of the students who will be going to Kolkata, Seth Gallant and Elise Hubert. Katie Colleran, photo

This year Brabazon will be leading eight students to Kolkata, in the eastern corner of India. The students filled out a lengthy application and were asked to participate in an hour-long interview with Moore. There were 21 applications more than in previous years, he says.

According to the St. Michael’s Web site, MOVE is one of St. Michael’s most popular organizations. The program involves a multitude of volunteer service opportunities through the Edmundite tradition. MOVE runs 24 local programs along with two domestic service trips and two to three international service trips a year. 

Not only is Brabazon excited to work with the group, but the group members are also looking forward to working with her.

“Annie is wonderful,” says junior Sarah Smith, one of the eight selected. “I am very excited she is our staff leader.”

Heidi St. Peter, director of MOVE, says she and Moore chose Brabazon to lead the trip because she was very well qualified in working with students in higher education and has a great ability to connect with the students. 

“I know this is going to be a great experience for both Annie and the students,” St. Peter says.   

Bringing aid to India

While in India, Brabazon and students will be aiding two organizations. The Missionary Sisters of Charity is a group of nuns founded by Mother Teresa. It runs a home for children who are physically and mentally disabled, one for the sick, one for the dying and others that the group members can volunteer in. Students will also be helping out Brother Xavier’s New Life, New Hope orphanage. 

“We’ll do whatever we can do to help, which among other things will probably include helping bathe, change, and feed people, giving massages,” writes junior Julia Berberan in an e-mail correspondence.

Brabazon says she is also excited about leading a trip for the first time and working with the different organizations in India.

Students who go to Kolkata bring back goods to sell in the market. Katie Colleran, photo

“I’m looking forward to working with a community of people so interested in service and learning about a different culture,” Brabazon says. “It’s great to meet the people who you will be serving with.”

Brabazon says she feels fortunate to be working with the eight chosen students because they are really invested in the trip. All of them have good hearts and a lot of patience with her as she gets used to everything, she says.

The group is scheduled to go to India from May 19 to June 8 of next year, meaning planning for the trip started last year, Brabazon says.

“Right now we’re getting together and figuring out travel arrangements to make sure everyone can travel internationally,” she says.  “We’re also thinking of some ideas for next semester’s fund-raisers.”

Smith says she is trying to learn all she can before the group leaves.

“We meet every week for two hours to prepare for the trip,” Smith says. “We take trips to the India House restaurant, watch movies, and read books.”

International Market

Another way MOVE is preparing for the trip is by putting on the fifth annual International Market. The market will be December 3 to 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Alliot lobby.

“Basically, we buy goods from different service trips MOVE has taken in different countries and bring them back here to sell,” Brabazon says. “We have things like scarves, jewelry, and wall hangings from India.  We have a lot of good things people can buy for the holidays and the money we get from the market we’ll bring back with us and give to the organizations.”

Over the course of the planning phase students will be conducting personal fund-raisers as well. This is to raise money for the different services and to buy international goods to bring back to the market. The children at the New Hope orphanage have also made items for the market and all the money made from sales will be given back to them, Moore says.

Students sort through the selection of goods at the market. Katie Colleran, photo

“We advertise to the outside community through the newspaper so we try to get everyone involved and all proceeds from the market go to the organizations we worked with,” he says. “It's perfect timing with the holidays coming up and people can feel good about buying a lot because it goes to a great cause.”