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Name: Matt Putorti
From: Whitehall, NY
Year: 2006
Degree: BA in Political Science &
International Studies
Interests: Social service, education,
working with street children
Service: Assistant at orphanage
From: Whitehall, NY
Year: 2006
Degree: BA in Political Science &
International Studies
Interests: Social service, education,
working with street children
Service: Assistant at orphanage
Name: Frank So
From: Portland, OR
Year: 2006
Degree: MA in international peace
and conflict resolution
Interests: humanitarian relief in
developing regions
Service: Assistant at orphanage
From: Portland, OR
Year: 2006
Degree: MA in international peace
and conflict resolution
Interests: humanitarian relief in
developing regions
Service: Assistant at orphanage
| Matt at recreation with child |
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| Children eating nutritious bananas |
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"I signed up for a year of service with VIDES after
having completed my undergraduate degree. The decision to
do so was something I contemplated for a long time – and was
influenced by several factors. First and foremost, I was inspired
by my parents whose long involvement with civic organizations
helped shape my personal development and moral system.
This metaphysical respect of humanity was codified and
experienced during my time at Boston College where the Jesuit
ideal of “men and women for others” brought me to
Mozambique, El Salvador and Appalachia – and simultaneously
to a better understanding of social justice and solidarity.
Finally, with faith's challenge to put love into action, I see a
responsibility to work for the betterment of everyone. Choosing
to do work internationally does not deny that poverty exists in
the US; rather it highlights that the poverty in many places of
the underdeveloped world is more entrenched and widespread,
while infrastructure and good governance do not exist to bring
people out of poverty.
My first four weeks abroad were spent in Rwanda, the site a not-
too-distant genocide that left nearly 800,000 people
dead during a terrifying 100 day period in 1994. But it has
moved toward stability and this is quite a feat: reconciliation to
the point of progress in only twelve years.
I was volunteering at a primary school and orphanage for girls
aged three to eighteen. My tasks, like washing dishes, were
fairly menial, yet humbling and gave me plenty of time to spend
with the orphans whose love seemed to radiate from their
beings. More than anything, they wanted only to be loved in
return, to be paid attention to and affirmed, that – yes! – they
have self-worth.
It was also in Rwanda that we founded the Banana Fund, a
fundraising effort with the original aim of supplementing the diet
of the school children and orphans with healthy alternatives.
It was difficult leaving the orphans after only a month, laden with
a guilt that I was propagating a cycle of people coming into their
lives then leaving shortly thereafter, but they understood I had
to move onto a new challenge – and that they would forever
remain in my heart. This new challenge was Sudan, an
interesting juxtaposition to Rwanda because many claim a
genocide is currently taking place here. It is also in Sudan that
the Banana Fund took on a new dimension."
-Matt Putorti
having completed my undergraduate degree. The decision to
do so was something I contemplated for a long time – and was
influenced by several factors. First and foremost, I was inspired
by my parents whose long involvement with civic organizations
helped shape my personal development and moral system.
This metaphysical respect of humanity was codified and
experienced during my time at Boston College where the Jesuit
ideal of “men and women for others” brought me to
Mozambique, El Salvador and Appalachia – and simultaneously
to a better understanding of social justice and solidarity.
Finally, with faith's challenge to put love into action, I see a
responsibility to work for the betterment of everyone. Choosing
to do work internationally does not deny that poverty exists in
the US; rather it highlights that the poverty in many places of
the underdeveloped world is more entrenched and widespread,
while infrastructure and good governance do not exist to bring
people out of poverty.
My first four weeks abroad were spent in Rwanda, the site a not-
too-distant genocide that left nearly 800,000 people
dead during a terrifying 100 day period in 1994. But it has
moved toward stability and this is quite a feat: reconciliation to
the point of progress in only twelve years.
I was volunteering at a primary school and orphanage for girls
aged three to eighteen. My tasks, like washing dishes, were
fairly menial, yet humbling and gave me plenty of time to spend
with the orphans whose love seemed to radiate from their
beings. More than anything, they wanted only to be loved in
return, to be paid attention to and affirmed, that – yes! – they
have self-worth.
It was also in Rwanda that we founded the Banana Fund, a
fundraising effort with the original aim of supplementing the diet
of the school children and orphans with healthy alternatives.
It was difficult leaving the orphans after only a month, laden with
a guilt that I was propagating a cycle of people coming into their
lives then leaving shortly thereafter, but they understood I had
to move onto a new challenge – and that they would forever
remain in my heart. This new challenge was Sudan, an
interesting juxtaposition to Rwanda because many claim a
genocide is currently taking place here. It is also in Sudan that
the Banana Fund took on a new dimension."
-Matt Putorti
"Experiencing, Sharing Life in Christ"
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