Hollins Women Making Change
Sarah Hopkins DeCamps
Hollins University,
Class of 2003
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Hollins Women Making Change |
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Sarah Hopkins DeCamps Hollins University, Class of 2003 |
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| Sarah
Hopkins DeCamps is a 2003 graduate of Hollins University, previously
attending The Collegiate School, and The College of Charleston
(briefly). Sarah grew up in and around Richmond, Virginia and has
always held a close bond with her family. Her family and church
have always acted as inspiration and support for the social work she now
commits herself to.
Sarah's time at Hollins was spent both committing herself to the school and also beginning her life of social activism. She helped the school as an orientation leader for incoming first-years, was involved in SGA (student governing association) all four years, worked for the student conduct council, and served as the chairman of the appeal board, was well as a member of ADA. Sarah also participated in a study abroad program in Seville, Spain, and traveled to San Pedro Sula, Honduras for three of her four short-terms to work for an organization called the Our Little Roses Ministries. Our Little Roses Ministries is a home for abused and abandoned girls in Honduras. The organization serves as a home, a school, a medical clinic, and it goes on. Our Little Roses really focuses on bringing girls together, giving them a home and family, and giving them opportunities to be successful in the country of Honduras, or wherever their dreams may take them. As each girl is truly individual, another goal of the organization is to cater to the certain needs, wants, and talents of each young lady. As the young ladies grow into their early adulthood they are able to graduate from high school with some experience in a track that they have chosen. From there, they have the opportunity to go to a university and broaden their education. Sarah has dedicated a great part of the last 11 years to the Our Little Roses Ministries, building relationships with the girls and women involved, spending time "laughing, crying, cleaning dirty diapers, sitting up all night with sick children in the hospital, painting walls, tutoring algebra, translating letters, decorating Christmas trees, cooking meals together, celebrating countless Quinceñera's, ringing in the new year, attending numerous weddings, baptisms, and even funerals." And she certainly plans to keep investing her time and energy into it's success and contributions. Sarah is currently working for Historic Christ Church, of Alexandria, Virginia, as the Director of Outreach. She manages 7 international organizations that the church coordinates and partners with, along with many local programs and projects that the church involves itself in. Sarah is also currently considering graduate school for the Fall of 2006, in the fields of international development, or international development management; she plans on these programs to broaden her education and skills needed in the non-profit world and later apply that experience in her dedication to the Our Little Roses Ministries. |
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What would be your definition of activism?
"Advocacy? I - that's a good question, I don't know. Definitely advocacy of pertinent social issues. It's hard to define the word activism without saying the word active."
Do you consider yourself an activist?
"I don't know. I don't want to say that I am one because I'm not out there on the front lines, you know?"
Is it because of the connotation of the word?
"That's probably true, yeah. Like, I went to the DC immigration rally yesterday, which was really fascinating because there were like 200,000 people there, but, you know, I see those people up on stage as activists..."
So do you think maybe the work you do is like activism, just not as loud?
"Definitely, definitely."
Excerpts of the Interviews: