stephen linell
IT was on a trip to Vietnam two years ago that the stark reality of poverty hit home to Kirsty Goss.
“It was such an eye-opener and from that time on I thought I don’t want to sit down and do nothing about this, I want to do something,” she told Star.
So with a group of three friends – Tim Smock and Priscila and James Osborne – Ms Goss began planning a missions trip to raise funds for the underprivileged overseas.
The planning led her to South America and the Chilean coastal township of Pichilemu.
“We wanted all the money we raised to go directly to the place where we were going and to make sure it was used properly.”
The 23-year-old from Hoppers Crossing has an honors degree in environmental science from Deakin University.
But she quickly found that Pichilemu – about three hours south of Santiago – is a long way from Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Ms Goss also found that the $5000 the group raised to help the local people went a lot further than it would here in Australia.
A keen surfer, Ms Goss and her friends purchased surfboards for the local children and taught lessons on how to ride the waves – Australian style.
The money raised also helped construct a building at the local swimming pool and the group donated a new computer and PA system.
“It was very challenging. The kids had pretty much nothing yet they were the happiest kids I’ve ever met,” Ms Goss said.
“They were willing to learn and just mirrored everything you said.
“We taught them how to surf. That was real fun. We made a lot of friendships and we also got to see what the money went towards.
“There are so many bad things happening in the world today it was just a great experience to be able to help people.
“It’s horrible to see so much poverty.”
But it wasn’t all fun in the surf and sand. Ms Goss and her fellow fundraisers became ill and were treated at the local hospital – an experience she will never forget.
“The conditions were horrible. It was the scariest moment I’ve ever had,” she said. “That was a real eye-opener.
“(The hospital) was like nothing I’d ever seen before. It had flickering fluorescent lights, paint peeling off all the walls. We were lying on stretches in the hallways on drips.”
But the experience has not fazed her. Ms Goss is already planning her next fundraising mission. “I’d really love to go back to Vietnam and help out some people there.
“If you want to get out of your comfort zone and actually lend a hand, it’s a great thing to do.”
