Kids & Family

Livingston Seton Hall U. Student Travels To Honduras For Mission Trip

Livingston resident Renu Benny, who turned 21 years old during the trip, said serving was the best way to celebrate her birthday.

Blog post written by Wendy Ekua DaCruz 

Twenty Seton Hall students traveled to Honduras and supplied medical care to more than 750 people in a war stricken region with Global Brigades, the world’s largest student-led global health and sustainable development organization.

Students helped more than 750 individuals through mobile clinics, visiting the orphanage and playing soccer with the children. They shadowed doctors, filling prescriptions and assisting dental patients with sutures, and also helped the architecture brigade, layering blocks and mixing cement to build a healthcare facility.

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Reflecting on her experience in Honduras, Livingston native Renu Benny said she learned about the joy of giving. One night, Benny found an elderly lady sitting outside waiting for her medication in the middle of a rainstorm.

“I had a rain jacket that I would not use in the states," said Benny. "When I saw this patient waiting outside the pharmacy [drenched], I gave her my jacket to protect her from the rain."

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Benny, who turned 21 years old during the trip, said serving was the best way to celebrate her birthday. 

“I can’t wait to go again,” said Benny, a biology major.

The Seton Hall community and dedicated GB members collaboratively raised a total of $15,000 to purchase medication for 752 people, medical supplies, print medication labels and more.

Speaking about her life-changing experience, Richa Bhimani, an occupational therapy major from Monroe, said, “We spread hope and love everywhere we went and brought one community closer to self-stainable living. Our experience put the Catholic mission of service in action, not just nationally, but internationally.”

“The practical experience students gained from the triage where vitals were taken to shadowing physicians in consultation was an invaluable experience gained,” said Kishi Patel, an alumnus, who majored in psychology honors.

Dr. Laura Pallitto, director of the university’s Center for Community Research and Engagement and GB faculty advisor, said he was "incredibly proud of our Seton Hall University student volunteers." 

"They provided medical assistance to almost 800 people over a three day period," said Pallitto. "The staff of the Global Medical Brigade in Honduras commented that our SHU students were dedicated, mature and focused. I could not agree more."

From providing hope and medical care in Honduras to sharing personal items with locals, Seton Hall students brought the village a step closer to a self-sustaining community and are excited about their upcoming brigade to Panama this May.

“Going into our second year, we hope to raise more money than last year and bring more brigaders majoring in different disciplines down to Panama,” said Richa. “This will enable us to treat more patients.”

Students held bake sales, organized canned drives, and partnered with a nonprofit organization called The Pulsera Project to sell bracelets made by people in Nicaragua. Students reached their goals and hope to inspire other students to participate in their fundraising initiatives and join the brigade.

 “In our core classes, we discussed the meaning and purpose of life. After this experience in Honduras, I’ve learned that my life purpose is to continue to help others in need,” said Chandani Patel, a biology major from Monroe, New Jersey pursuing a career in medicine.

 “I went to Honduras to serve, but the Honduran people, rather, served me by transforming my perspective on life,” she added.

This year, students who want to join in these efforts can contact chapter co-President, Richa Bhimani, at richa.bhimani@student.shu.edu for more information. 


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