Students Developing Nonprofit Organization to Help Address Social Issues

To raise awareness of social issues in the United States and in developing countries, a group of University of New Haven students are working to launch a nonprofit called "Unseen and Unspoken."

March 29, 2019

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

What began as a conversation between students about the issues that international students face has evolved into an idea on the verge of becoming a nonprofit organization that is endeavoring to make an impact worldwide.

"We initially wanted to create a club on campus," said Ketsia Kimpioka ’19, a business management major from Congo. "After submitting all the paperwork, we decided to take our idea a bit further and eventually create a nonprofit. I hope this can be an example to other students of what they can do if they take initiative."

Kimpioka along with Klerisa Kimca ’19 and Michaela Sullivan ’21 are navigating the process of establishing "Unseen and Unspoken," and they are applying for nonprofit status with the Internal Revenue Service. They have been getting support from their professors – and from each other.

"The organization brings together three students from different majors," said Kimca, an economics major from Albania. "I’m learning from their studies, and they are both learning from mine. We’re helping each other out."

"We want to raise awareness and spark conversations about things that aren’t usually discussed."Michaela Sullivan ’21

They are also learning how to plan their first event – an exhibition featuring art made by people with disabilities. They hope it will raise support for programs that benefit people with disabilities in developing countries.

The students envision "Unseen and Unspoken" providing a platform for discussion, eventually leading to solutions to social disparities and problems in the United States, Congo, Albania, and beyond.

"It’s almost like a TED Talk, a spreading ideas kind of organization," said Sullivan, a Scotch Plains, NJ, native who is studying forensic science. "We want to raise awareness and spark conversations about things that aren’t usually discussed."