The student news of Bethel Park High School.

Hawk Eye
The student news of Bethel Park High School.

Hawk Eye
The student news of Bethel Park High School.

Hawk Eye

SGA to sell YUDA Bands in February

Katie Zilcosky, Staff Writer
January 15, 2014

Starting on February 10th, SGA will be spearheading a new and unique service project. They’ll be selling YUDA Bands.

YUDA Bands, which are handmade coconut and leather bracelets, get their name from from the Spanish word to help, ayuda.

This is one of the most unique service learning projects around right now. Proceeds from the sale will benefit less fortunate countries.

These $7 bands serve two purposes. Primarily, proceeds from these bands sponsor a child’s school tuition. The bands also help to create jobs in Guatemala where the bands are made.

The YUDA Band creator lives by the saying, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” That is why they believe the only way to break the poverty cycle is through education.

It is $350 a year for a child in Guatemala to go to school. This $350 is raised through YUDA Band selling.

The $7 is divided up from each band. $2 goes to the scholarship fund of the chosen student. $3 goes to pay the salaries of those who make the YUDA Bands. $2 covers operational costs, such as shipping.

Because the YUDA bands are handmade, each is unique. They come in a variety of colors and with different designs on the coconut piece. You can see some of their designs on their Flickr page.

This project is not a fundraiser for Student Government. They receive no money from selling the YUDA Bands.

Student Government is ordering 350 bracelets, which is enough to send a child to school for two years instead of just one.

The selling period of the YUDA Bands is only two weeks and starts February 10th. So, it’s important to get them and help out while you can.

To learn more about YUDA Bands you can access their website here.

Download a free video about YUDA Bands here. 

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About the Contributor
Katie Zilcosky
Katie Zilcosky, Staff Writer
Have you ever found yourself walking around the high school and wondering, "Who is that girl that looks like Scarlett Johansson?" Well look no further, her name is Katie Zilcosky. Aside from this extreme likeness, there is a lot more to Katie than meets the eye. To say she is involved in Bethel Park High School is a huge understatement. Katie is musically inclined. She plays violin in Concert Orchestra and french horn in Marching Band, in which she is a bus monitor. Katie also has a sporty side. She plays varsity lacrosse for the girls' team in the spring. Katie said, "Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Yeah I play lax." The majority of Katie's time is consumed with student-run activities. She is the Homecoming Chair of Dance and Decorations and the corresponding secretary of SGA on the Executive Board. "I basically do all of the attendance work. I'm like the mean guy, like giving demerits and stuff," Katie said. Katie maintains a part-time job cashier at Trax Farms, where she is a cashier. Katie's post BPHS plans include majoring in Journalism/International Relations at either Syracuse or American University. As for paying, Katie has a secret. She said, "My father works for Duquesne University, so I am able to enroll in tuition exchange, where I get my tuition covered as if I were going to Duquesne." She hopes to work in foreign services, such as an embassy, someday. She would also like to join the Peace Corp. Obviously, this girl has a lot on her agenda. And yet, Katie Zilcosky will find time to write current events, features, and opinion pieces for Hawk Eye.   Wriiten by Zach Laufer, Staff Writer