As we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, Michigan State University’s International Engagement Volunteers, or IEV, program exemplifies the spirit of community service and cultural connection. This student-led organization is dedicated to serving 12 different nonprofits in vulnerable communities across Mexico. Throughout the school year, students raise funds for the International Engagement to Mexico, or IEM, while gaining a better understanding of cultural heritage.
IEV’s mission is to make a difference in the communities at the fringe of Mexico’s society. The student program achieves this by coordinating fundraising events to raise proceeds for attaining goods and materials necessary for participants in IEM to perform effective volunteer duties while abroad.
One annual fundraising event IEV coordinates each fall semester is the IEM 5K themed around Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, which features music and cultural food. Also, IEV raises funds through Cedar Point’s community service weekend as well as the IEV fiesta, which attracts many students interested in coming together to enjoy Tejano music. The money raised from these events is used to buy materials depending on the organization’s needs to support their work in Mexico. Additionally, students are tasked with coordinating fundraisers and securing donations for individual city funds starting in late December and early spring semester.
In recent years, students have had the most fun being part of the individual city funds because students are challenged to work together in groups to find common skills and create a project to raise money for a service site in Mexico. Some past projects that students developed include raffles, bake sales and fruit cups sales, games, food drives and even selling haircuts — showcasing the creativity and dedication of IEV members to helping those in need.
According to Patricia Joly, associate director of international initiatives within Migrant Student Services, “IEV does not want to change things in Mexico; instead, they want to support what these communities are already doing.”
Remarkably, 100% of the funds raised go toward purchasing essential items like paint, tools, cleaning supplies, plants and school materials. Any remaining funds are donated directly to the partner agency, ensuring ongoing support.
Because the Cedar Point community service event has been the most popular fundraiser for students, this year, for the first time, IEV participated for two weekends to invite and allow more students the opportunity to join. Cedar Point’s community service consists of working in food service or retail, where each volunteer works an eight-hour shift, and the money earned goes directly toward the IEM program. After the students’ shifts are completed, they are rewarded with complimentary entry to Cedar Point’s theme park to enjoy the rest of their time bonding and building community with each other.
Karina Zepeda, a former IEV site leader and E-board member, shared that her Mexican identity motivates her to help her community. “Participating in IEV has helped me spread awareness of what Hispanic Heritage Month means to other students who are not knowledgeable about it. Understanding our culture is the first step to supporting each other and helping communities in Mexico.”
Ashley Guardiola, a second-year student who also serves as assistant to the associate director of international initiatives and as current vice president for IEV, first encountered the student organization through her job. After learning about IEV’s mission, she felt drawn to become more involved and joined the E-board committee. Through IEV, Guardiola has used her creativity to design flyers and advertisements for IEV Instagram posts and upcoming events. Reflecting on her experience, she shared, “All the fundraising events that IEV hosts have allowed me to reconnect with my culture at a predominantly white institution and, in a way, it always gives me a little taste of home.” Her experience highlights how IEV builds leadership skills while also enriching students with a sense of belonging.
As IEV continues to inspire students to make a difference in Mexican communities, it also reminds us of the important impact that community service and cultural pride can have on building student leaders. National Hispanic Heritage Month offers the opportunity to reflect on this shared mission as students like Guardiola and Zepeda build bridges between their heritage and their desire to help communities in need.
MSU recognizes National Hispanic Heritage Month, and our community is coming together to strengthen resources, programs, research centers and scholarships serving Hispanic and Latinx students at MSU. Learn more at givingto.msu.edu.