Last Friday night, Villanova’s Global Social Justice Initiative Club hosted a 3v3 basketball tournament to raise money for children in Palestine. For 10 dollars per person, students could sign up as a team of three to enter the tournament and for a chance to win 76ers tickets.
In the St. Mary’s gym, almost 50 students put together teams to compete, while others joined just to watch and enjoy Middle Eastern food, provided by Al-Sham Restaurant. Food was also 10 dollars per person, and all proceeds went to Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
On its website, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund states that it is an organization that, “provides free medical care to thousands of injured and ill children yearly who lack local access to care within the local health care system.”
The event was in the works for two months, and faculty advisor Gabriel Rockhill spoke on how students organized the event.
“Members met two to three times per week to plan, lobby campus organizations for funds and set up a 3v3 basketball tournament with nearly 50 participants,” Rockhill said. “Every member played a critical role, and the night went exceedingly well.”
However it was not always a smooth road while promoting the event.
“There were certainly some difficulties in the process of organizing, but I would say that GSJI had more issues with students than we did with the University itself,” Rockhill said. “At multiple points, GSJI flyers in residential halls, which had been approved by the Office of Student Involvement, were torn down, ripped up and thrown on the ground. We are not quite sure why anyone would take issue with raising funds for children in dire need of care.”
Despite having some pushback, Global Social Justice Initiative still had a very successful event and was able to raise almost $3,000. Club members were extremely excited with the turnout and encourage students who wish to continue to support the club to follow its Instagram, @nova_gsji to be updated on future events and current fundraisers. It is always welcoming to new members and has meetings every other Thursday at 7 p.m.
The club also encourages students who want to know more about the Israel-Palestine conflict to follow the link in the bio of @villanova_sjp on Instagram to find trusted resources.
“The purpose of this event and others like it is to raise a substantial amount of money for a good cause,” Rockhill said when asked why the club chose to organize this event.
He also spoke on why a basketball tournament was the way they chose to raise money.
“There is nothing that Villanova students love more than basketball, so the tournament served as a fun experience for those who participated and a successful fundraiser for our organization,” Rockhill said.
The Global Social Justice Initiative does not only work on international issues, but local ones, too.
“As an organization, the main goal is to make small, but definitive steps to address both local and global social justice issues,” Rockhill said. “Over the past year, GSJI has begun lobbying the University to provide a break room for the Connelly Center employees.”
With the Connelly Center being one of the busiest buildings on campus, Global Social Justice Initiative is determined to raise awareness on them not having an adequate break area and are hoping to get one provided soon. It strongly encourages students to sign the petition in its Instagram bio to further urge the University to add a break room for the employees.
Overall, the basketball event was an extreme success and the Global Social Justice Initiative hopes they can continue this attitude towards problems they bring to light. Not only did the club provide a community building event by allowing students to compete, it also raised a good amount of money that will go to children who are in need.
