Simonoff said he is considering a return trip overseas next
spring, though the travel expenses are coming out of his pocket.
The organizers of University Volunteers International are
continuing to contact students and college professors who would allow
the trips to count toward class credit.
In the first six months, Bailey said, the organization has sent
nine students on relief projects. The next step, Simonoff said, is to
finalize a business model that will allow University Volunteers
International to achieve nonprofit status.
For both Simonoff and Bailey, working on the project is a way to
stay connected to what's happening overseas.
"It [the tsunami] has been taken out of the public eye," Bailey
said. "There was a whole bunch of money given at first, but there is
so much more to be done."
To contact University Volunteers International, go to
o7www.universityvolunteers.orgf7.
* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.
He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at
o7elia.powers@latimes.comf7.
