When Waterloo resident and University of Guelph student Mariam Javed first began hearing about East Africaโs devastating drought and subsequent famine, it struck her with a sense of responsibility she couldnโt disregard. The crisis, which has now claimed lives across several African countries and led to desperate refugee conditions, was declared a famine in parts of Somalia on July 20.
โWe all have iPods and iPhones and all that, and mansion houses, and like four cars, and for someone to be dying because they are so thirsty, it doesnโt really make any sense,โ said Javed.
The event, titled โThis Time for Africa: Zumbathon,โ allowed participants to donate a minimum $10 donation to UNICEF to partake in one of two fun fitness classes, hosted in the Uptown Waterloo Square on Aug. 30. The zumba classes, taught by local instructor Liliana Dominguez, were an energetic combination of aerobics and Latin dance.
Said Javed, who had tried the fitness craze with friends during the school year, โyouโre having so much fun while youโre working out that you canโt really tell youโre losing weight.โ
Dominguez, who has been teaching zumba for two and half years in the Waterloo-Wilmot area, was ecstatic to be able to play a role in the charitable event.
โI am originally from Columbia so Iโve been through really hard times in my life, but nothing like people in Africa,โ Dominguez explained. โSo when I have the opportunity to be in this Zumbathon and help people that are going through such hard, hard moments, and feel that I can help them โฆ Iโll do it.โ
Each session appeared to host between 20 and 40 energetic zumba participants, many of whom were trying the activity for the first time. Maheen Sohail, who both participated and volunteered at the henna art booth, described the workout as โamazing.โ
โI love the idea,โ she said. โItโs very lively.โ
Zumba teacher Carol Duke had heard of the event from Dominguez after meeting her at the Kitchener-Waterloo Latin Fest in July. โYou just canโt get enough zumba once you start zumba,โ Duke commented. โItโs so infectious.โ
She continued, โMy money goes to something really beneficial, and Iโm cool with that.โ
While some came out for a love of physical activity, others were drawn by the worthiness of the cause. When asked why she chose to attend, Suk Jeong replied, โWell, I think itโs part of our responsibility to take care of our community members, and community members at large, not just people who live here, but abroad as well.โ
Jeong, who heard about the event from a co-worker, took it upon herself to distribute flyers and collect donations from those who could not attend.
For Rebecca Seiling, the Zumbathon provided an opportunity to expose her children to the harsher reality faced by millions in less fortunate countries.
Seiling commented, โI feel like itโs important for them to learn about world issues and whatโs happening in the other parts of the world.โ
Success for the day was defined by Javed as more than just a financial goal.
โIf just a few people walk away from this, knowing that the famine exists, and thinking about it a little more, thatโd be enough,โ she said.
However, in addition to spreading awareness, the event surpassed its $1000 goal, reaching total donations of just over $1,500.
Thus proving that a little zumba, and a lot of heart, can go a long way toward making a difference in the lives of those in need.