2012 NBLSA C.A.R.E.S. Haïti Report
About NBLSA and NBLSA C.A.R.E.S. The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) is the nation's largest studentrun organization representing over 6,000 minority law students from over 200 chapters and affiliates throughout the United States and six other countries. In addition to articulating and promoting educational, professional, political and social agenda of Black law students, NBLSA has undertaken many initiatives, like NBLSA C.A.R.E.S., that touch lives beyond the borders of the United States. NBLSA C.A.R.E.S. (Contributing through Advocacy, Resources, Education, and Service) is a program designed “to expose law students to international issues, while nurturing their interest in international law. Students are given the opportunity to serve on an international level, which allows NBLSA to touch more lives," said National Director of International Relations, Crystal Ikanih. For the last four years, NBLSA has raised over $7,000 and volunteered more than 1000 hours on behalf of issues affecting Haïti. NBLSA C.A.R.E.S. has sent several students from various law schools across the country to volunteer in Haïti. As Jerry Boies, a native of Haïti and 2012 delegate said, “Haïti greatly needs NBLSA’s help. NBLSA members are not only future leaders in the legal profession, but are in many respects current leaders in their own communities very capable of helping Haïti.” This year, from January 2-7, 2012, ten NBLSA student-members traveled to Haïti to work in partnership with the Vincentian Family Worldwide's Zafèn Project, an initiative dedicated to effectively serving marginalized people around the world. More specifically, the participants evaluated projects that promote the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by assessing their sustainability and effectiveness on human/economic development within a human-rights model. In conjunction with the service trip, NBLSA donated $1,000 to the Zafèn Project to support the development of small businesses in Haïti.
About the Vincentian Family The Vincentian Family is a worldwide network of non-profit charitable organizations with a well-established organizational structure in more than 135 countries. The Vincentian Family has its roots in the life and works of Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac, who together identified the needs of and cared for the poor through food distribution, hospitals, orphanages, spiritual ministries and other services in 17th century France.
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