A University of Miami Southern Asian fraternity aims to set an example for others through philanthropy and academia.
Members of Delta Epsilon Psi have a minimum grade point average of 3.0. They voluntarily seek, repair and donate old computers to underprivileged countries through a program called Project PC Hookup.
“I was given so many opportunities,” said Ashish Shah, a junior and founding member. “Here in the U.S. we have so many resources. By giving my time somehow, someway we can make things happen.”
Last Spring, two members of the fraternity traveled along with University of Miami medical school students to Haiti through Project Medishare, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing vaccines, screen tests and other health care needs to underprivileged nations.
Instead of carry-on luggage, they brought on board four newly repaired computers that would serve Haitian health care workers. Delta Epsilon Psi members also delivered donated clothes, towels and sanitary items to island residents.
This academic year, the seven member fraternity wants to donate at least 25 computers to help Project Medishare set up a classroom in Haiti in which children can learn to use computers.
“Our goal is to expand service and take it to a level organizations in our school haven’t seen,” Swapnil Patel, a junior and the fraternity’s president, said.
Delta Epsilon Psi also partnered with another nonprofit organization that collects old computers from hospitals.
Along with the help of a computer savvy fraternity brother, junior Emmanuel Berchmans, the members spend four to five hours a week fixing the modems.
One of the challenges the project faces this year is finding 25 monitors to go along with the repaired modems, according to Shah. But members of the fraternity hope to gain the support of the university as well as the student body.
The fraternity arrived on campus last fall. Since then it has acquired members of different religions and nationalities.
“We have Christians, Hindus, Muslims,” Shah said. “We are five from India, one from Bangladesh, and one from Cape Verde.”
Priding itself on active community service, last November the group hosted a charity volleyball tournament called the Diabetes Spike Off to raise awareness about juvenile diabetes and collect funds for its research. Each player paid a $5 fee to participate.
“Other frats on campus played against each other for a grand prize of $150, which the winning team donated back,” Patel said.
The fraternity raised $3,500 for juvenile diabetes last year. Patel hopes to raise $5,000 this year, and a 2009 Spike Off is already in the works. But, Patel says, more fraternity members are needed to help reach this goal.
“We were seeing we needed inspiration for service in the Indian community and in general and wanted to set a good example,” Patel said.
For more information about Delta Epsilon Psi visit their website: www.depsinu.org.
If you would like to donate to Project PC Hookup, contact Emmanuel Berchmans at secretary@depsinu.org.