Mercy Girl Effect Project Revealed by Executive Board
Before the conclusion of Convocation, members of the Student Council Executive Board shared details about this year's Mercy Girl Effect which will benefit the young women and girls in the Choctaw reservations of Mississippi.
"The Mississippi tribe of Choctaw Indians are the descendants of those who refused to leave their homeland during the Trail of Tears," explained Courtney Carew '26. "The trail of tears refers to the forced removal of the Choctaw Nation from their ancestral lands in the Southeastern United States to Indian Territory which is now present-day Oklahoma. This resulted in deaths of thousands of Choctaw people from disease, starvation, and exposure to harsh conditions during the journey. For our 2025-2026 Mercy Girl Effect action campaign, we invite you to work with us in honoring their dignity, resilience, and shared hopes for a more just and compassionate world."
Sarah Algier '26: noted that $4,000 was raised for last year's Mercy Girl Effect project and they aim to accomplish the same goal with year with a variety of events.
"The money we raise will be going towards helping to strengthen social services in the community, family support, and community programs across nine reservation communities, which is home to approximately 11,000 Choctaw citizens," said Zoe Drivas '26. "Some of the services include programs for young mothers who have recently had children or are expecting, services for the elderly, child welfare, and home improvement assistance. While some of these things may seem smaller compared to others, all of them will help girls and women around the world achieve their way back to access of education."
Sophia Chmura '26 reminded us of words shared by Catherine McAuley: "Do what you can each day. Do it one person at a time."
Eavan Batista '26 concluded, "This October, Sister Deidre Mullan, RSM will be visiting to share more about this year's mission and how we can help. We hope you are excited to be a part of our team and help us reach our goal for the 2025-2026 school year! Thank you."
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