Kiara Aveytua

Professor McKenzie Moore

Humanities 1010
May 3,2016
Civic Engagement
For my civic engagement assignment, I decided to go the the LDS Humanitarian Center
for a tour. The LDS Humanitarian center specializes in providing wheelchairs, vision care,
immunizations, neonatal resuscitation, clean water, food production & nutrition, and emergency
response to countries in need including refugees in the USA and abroad.
The humanitarian effort has given over 57,800 in 48 countries in 2014. A lot of recipients
do not have access to a wheelchair or a wheelchair that works in the terrain he or she lives in.
There was a gentleman in the Dominican Republic who contracted Polio as a child. He doesnt
have use of his legs. He has to use his hands to get around. He said it was hard trying to support
his wife and children. The LDS effort provided him with a wheelchair that works for the area he
lives in. It made his life easier to get to work and be with his family. Even a wheelchair can make
a huge difference.
It amazes me how so many people dont have access to the care we have such as vision
care. Our vision is so important and yet neglected at times. In 2014, 81,600 people received
vision care in 34 countries. A number of things can go wrong with vision. I take for granted my
vision. I would be very sad if I couldnt see how beautiful the world is around us. You dont
realize how important your vision is until you start having problems or see someone start having
problems.
People in America could argue with this next category: immunizations. Whether we need
them or not. I say we do. In 2014 there were 9 campaigns in 9 countries for immunizations.
Every little bit of help counts. The biggest concern they had is Malaria. Nearly 2.5 billion are at
risk. 500 million severely infected. Over 1 million are killed, most are children. All this from a
female mosquito needing blood to lay her eggs. Being bitten means killing off the red blood cells
we have.
In Africa its a huge problem. Since they dont have proper housing, trying to keep
mosquitoes out is hard. Even not having clean drinking water, mosquitoes can be in the water
they drink. The LDS church is providing nets to put over the bed at night. Spraying the homes to
keep mosquitoes out and immunizing with the Malaria vaccine and more. There are even some
parents who walk with there infected children 26 miles one way to get the care they need.
The church provided Neonatal Resuscitation as well as care for preterm babies in
countries where infant mortality rate was high due to lack of trained professionals. Speaking
from experience when I was pregnant with my daughter, I made it to 18 weeks and started
having contractions and bleeding. I was having preterm labor; I was put on bed rest for the rest
of my pregnancy. I was always worrying that my daughter would come early and she would have
problems depending on when she came. I made sure there was a NICU near or at the hospital I
wanted. We are so lucky to have so many hospitals that are 5 miles or less from our homes.
The LDS effort goes to the countries and teaches doctors and nurses how to care for
preterm babies and how to use the equipment they receive. Its already terrifying having a baby
come early or to have a child develop problems later in life. I cant imagine not being able to
help my daughter. In 2014, 30,200 people received and were taught neonatal care in 42 countries.
Clean water, we are so fortunate to have clean drinking water. I absolutely love my
Costco bottled water, even tap water. I cant imagine what its like not being able to have clean

water. In 2014 1 million people in 26 countries received clean water. We take for granted
something as simple as that. SO much water is wasted everyday while others have little to no
water.
Food production and nutrition are so important. Even here not a lot of people can afford
to eat healthy but we are still better off than most of the other countries. In 2014 24,800 people in
17 countries had help in food production and nutrition. On a Native American reservation, they
Indian people needed help with growing food and didnt know how to do it properly. The church
helped them start a community garden. They taught them how to use the land they had, and all
the basics in gardening. How to clear land, plant, water, etc. It was such a blessing to the Indian
people.
The final area that the church helps with is emergency response. In 2014 there were 132
projects in 60 countries. A natural disaster rather close to home is the 2011 Joplin, Missouri
tornado. This deadly tornado killed 158 people and injured 1,150. This multivortex tornado was
the deadliest to strike the United States. After it happened the LDS church was there to help with
clearing debris, searching for survivors, aiding the injured and delivering food, water and
clothes, etc. They were also there in Chile when they got hit with a big earthquake. I think its
awesome that they are always ready to help in so many ways.
When I went on the tour I was shown this quote by Joseph Smith. It said, We are to feed
the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to
comfort the afflicted, whether in this church, or in any other church, or in no church at all I
really like this quote because it shows that the church doesnt care whether or not you are LDS.
They just want to help and care for others. Even back then in 1842 they wanted to be there for
others to do good.
The missionaries giving the tour took my family and I to the sorting areas of the
Humanitarian Center. I saw clothes tightly put together. All the clothes and other items are
donated at the D.I. locations. Some are sold in the stores and the remaining go to the
humanitarian center to be sorted and put tightly together then packaged. They are packaged and
wrapped and sealed tight and in the event of a disaster they can quickly be put on a truck, boat,
or plane to the disaster location.
The workers at the center are immigrants and refugees. It sure was a sight to see. It
honestly made me want to cry. Some of the workers were singing native songs as they worked. It
was a humbling sight. The missionaries told us that they work for 4 hours and study English for
4 hours and get paid for a total of 8 hours. The money the D.I. gets goes to pay the workers. They
also help them with interview skills, cover letters, resumes and looking for other jobs. People are
also encouraged to donate their time by making quilts, they even teach you how. These quilts are
distributed all over the world where they are needed.
The church does so much charity work in so many different countries. Its amazing what
they have done and still plan to do. It makes you feel so humble that we live where we do and
have all the things we do. We definitely need to appreciate what we have and need to learn to
love the little thing in life. Going on a tour there makes me want to help in some way. They make
quilts to send to different areas of the world. I think Ill start there. Itll feel good to help. The
smallest differences make the biggest impact.