Ryerson women's volleyball team makes humanitarian trip
TORONTO – The Ryerson Rams women's volleyball team is heading south for a humanitarian trip in the Sonora province of Mexico from December 16-23.
The women will be teaming up with the Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation for one week in the town of Agua Prieta, which lies on the Mexico-U.S. border just south of the state of Arizona. There, the Rams athletes and coaches will take on major projects in partnership with Rancho Feliz in the region to help assist the people of Agua Prieta by bettering their lives through opportunity and education.
The Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation has worked on the border since 1987, and is a multi-national, secular, non-profit organization that believes in the democratic redistribution of opportunity. The foundation has changed thousands of lives on both sides of the border with about 94 cents of every dollar raised going directly into their various programs.
One of those projects the Rams will be assisting in is the building of a house for a family in need over the course of the week, concluding with a fiesta on their second last day of the trip where the keys will be handed over to the new homeowners.
The women's second project already began with a calendar fundraiser earlier in the season in which the proceeds went to raise money for a large food distribution in Agua Prieta. The team's fundraising totals for the distribution were also matched by various donors and will result in many families in the region having food for the holiday season.
In addition, the Rams will also be playing matches against some local volleyball teams as well as running clinics throughout the week. The women will maintain their training while in Mexico.
"(Dustin Reid, Head Coach) had wanted to do a humanitarian trip for a while," said fifth-year veteran Kasandra Bracken. "Part of playing volleyball is personal growth. By going on this trip and not a training-specific trip is like a catalyst for personal growth. It just puts things in perspective."
The Sherwood Park, Alta. native said the team is very excited about making the journey abroad to make a positive impact that transcends a typical varsity training tour.
"We had a similar trip to Madawaska (but) a trip like this encourages team bonding and dynamics more than any other we've had," explained Bracken. I'm very excited to go and help out (the Rancho Feliz's Foundation's) cause. I think the (team is) going to get a lot out of it."
For more information on the Rancho Feliz Foundation, or to make a donation, please visit www.ranchofeliz.com.
