New BYU service club offers internships and travel opportunities

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Amber Savage says she’s met some incredible people through Revive Humanity. (Photo courtesy Amber Savage)

A new BYU club, known as the Revive Service Club, aims to improve world conditions by offering humanitarian relief abroad while providing valuable experiences for its student members.

The club has close ties with three organizations: (1) Virtual Business Builders, (2) Revive Service Tours and (3) Revive Humanity. All three have joined resources in what they call “The Trifecta.”

All three organizations in the Trifecta offer internships and travel opportunities. Through the Revive Service Club, students can get involved in meaningful service and have access to the resources and network of the Trifecta.

Erin Merkley, president of the Revive Service Club, said it was formed primarily to give students service opportunities.

“The main thing we want to do is … help students be aware of the service opportunities available,” Merkley said. “Some students can’t go on a full internship, but they may be able to go on one Revive Service tour and get experience.”

Another purpose of the club is to create a valuable network of nonprofit organizations that can work together on humanitarian projects.

“As part of activities we will help network other nonprofits and get involved in the projects,” Merkley said. “(We) network to bring organizations together to stamp out poverty.”

Ryan Ogden, executive director of Revive Service Tours, said the intention of Revive Service Tours is to provide long-term stability in needy countries.

“We focus on leading the way to improvement by increasing stability in every country we go to,” Ogden said. “A country that is stable has poverty under control … so poverty is something we can help with for sure.”

Ogden has traveled abroad on many service projects; his most recent was a service tour to the Philippines. He said his experiences abroad have changed his life and that traveling to do service is more meaningful than tourism.

“Being able to see the world and helping people while doing it is an amazing combination,” Ogden said. “This experience has changed my life, and I want to share that with other people. … It’s a real game changer.”

The BYU Revive Service Club is one way Ogden hopes to share his experiences and opportunities. Ogden said the club, as well as the Trifecta, can help BYU students “Go Forth to Serve.”

“Our motto goes very well with BYU’s motto: (Enter to Learn) — Go Forth to Serve,” Ogden said. “The BYU community has a lot of service-oriented people … connections are one of the biggest things we have to offer and … the opportunity to do meaningful service.”

Amber Savage, head of the Revive Humanity part of the Global Trifecta, said in an email that doing work for communities abroad is both inspiring and self-fulfilling.

“I love what I am doing,” Savage said. “I continue to be amazed and awestruck at the miracles that are happening at every turn. We have met some of the most incredible people and made unbelievable contacts. This is certainly an inspired work.”

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