Change begins with the individual, said a recent Fairfield graduate on Wednesday in a lecture entitled “Rwanda: From Genocide to Hope.”
Marco Ambrosio ’07 spoke to the Fairfield University community about the service work he has done globally. The lecture was in honor of AIDS awareness week.
The hour-long lecture was the first of the Black Studies Program Lecture Series, “Remaining Awake through a Great Revolution.”
Ambrosio spoke about AIDS/HIV facts, the effect it has on people globally and what is being done to fight the virus. He related this to Rwanda which, in his opinion, is one of the most underreported success stories.
Ambrosio also emphasized the importance an individual can make, saying, “Individuals change the world.”
According to Ambrosio, after graduating he wanted to show people hope so he went to five successful HIV organizations in five different countries. He studied with programs such as FACE AIDS, a student run organization, and PARTNERS IN HEALTH, a human rights program that gives HIV victims service, education, training and access to basic needs.
Ambrosio said that he made trips to Nicaragua, San Francisco, Thailand, India and Rwanda with the goal of putting faith in action, giving hope and practicing the magis- a Jesuit phrase meaning “more”. If you find the magis in others, you are putting faith in action, Ambrosio said.
According to Ambrosio, all people have the same needs. These needs are health care, education and a job. Every person wants this despite differences in geographic location.
During the lecture, Ambrosio told stories and showed videos of people he met who find it more difficult to receive these basic needs because they were affected by HIV.
“Same wants, same needs, same dreams,” said Ambrosio.
Ambrosio spoke about the 3 C’s, which are also mentioned in the book he is currently writing. The first is competence, or to be effective; when you see a problem, get it done. This leads to conscience, or applying your efforts to where you think they will be most effective. The one that ties them all together is compassion, which is more than just a charitable act, but rather to have passion for others.
Ambrosio stressed that as students we need to have passion and drive. If you have this, people will help you achieve your dream.
“Believe in yourself, find that passion and fulfill that action,” Ambrosio.
Jennifer Miller ‘07, co-founder of Fairfield’s FACE AIDS, accompanied Ambrosio in increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS and raising money for the organizations.
To become a part of global social justice like Ambrosio and Miller click here.
Be the first to comment on this article!