BYU NewsNet - Enter to Learn, Going Forth to Serve

A group of people, including four BYU students, recently went to Haiti with helping hands.

The thirteen volunteers were from International Aid-Serving Kids, a non-profit organization that assists with child advocacy and humanitarian aid. The group performed dental and medical treatment, and donated clothes and food. The trip occurred from August 24th through September 1.

"It was amazing," said BYU student Diana Pratt. "This was my second time to Haiti and it really is inspiring to see the kids down there and have the opportunity to help them out."

When Niel Ashton heard about the chance to return to Haiti, he jumped at the opportunity. Ashton, a BYU pre-dental student, served his mission in Haiti.

"It was great to go back," Ashton said. "I had told a lot of people that I would be coming back and this gave me a great opportunity to do just that."

IASK was founded in 2002 by Illens Dort, a native Haitian who came to America 20 years ago. He graduated from BYU in 1991 and now wants to give back to his home country.

Based in Orem, IASK works with local families and a variety of partners to support international orphaned and abandoned children in need of shelter, food, education, clothing or health care.

"We have so much here in America, it really is humbling," Dort said. "At BYU you enter to learn and go forth to serve and that is what we are doing here. We just want to help the children in Haiti and let them know that we care about them and love them."

Along with having the opportunity to return to the country where he served his mission, Ashton admitted it was also great practical experience for his career.

"It was really cool, because I got to pull my first tooth," Ashton said. "It really gave me some good experience that will help me in my career."

Ashton also said that while it was a service-oriented trip and he got to help tons of people, it is also fun.

"It's great because you get to help people and have a fun adventure as well," Ashton said.

Marc Aurel Martial, director of operations for IASK, has been involved with IASK since 2002 and said the community support has been overwhelming from their donations of time, money and supplies.

"We have had such great support from the community," Martial said. "We have started doing reports on our trips to the community and our sponsors to say thank you and let them see what we are doing down there.

"Our report on this most recent trip is scheduled for Sept. 14 at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center."

Martial encourages any students thinking about doing something like this to jump at the opportunity.

"Many people go on these trips to serve the people, but when you go you realize that the people also serve you," Martial said. " Everyone who goes has a life changing experience and everyone comes out of it with a story to tell."

IASK is planning another trip in November to the Dominican Republic with an estimated travel party of more than 50 people so far. Students interested in donating their time, talents or resources to IASK can find out more information by e-mailing Illens Dort at idort@iask4kids.org.