College was more than just a four-year party for Hinsdale resident John Razzouk, it was a time to figure out how he could make a difference in the world.

That opportunity came two years ago, when the dean at La Sierra University in Riverside, Calif. encouraged Razzouk to join the Students in Free Enterprise group. The international nonprofit organization allows students to make an impact by organizing community service projects focusing on market economics, business ethics, success skills, financial literacy and sustainability.

“The school made an effort to bring in a bunch of us from different majors to create a new fresh team, and this brought a different perspective to the group, which helped inspire models that veered from the norm,” Razzouk said.

As team president, Razzouk helped implement a philosophy to build upon existing projects. Many other teams worked on 20 to 30 different projects at a time, but Razzouk’s group decided in 2006 to work on only five projects with multiple phases.

The group has impacted people well beyond America’s borders including helping students around the world develop business plans as well as building a manufacturing facility to produce medical scrubs and uniforms in Ethiopia. The latter created 60 jobs for the village of Kalaala.

But the project that stands out most for Razzouk is the Build-a-Village project.
Working with Marie Besancon, CEO of American-Sudanese Partnerships, the project was created to help build eco-friendly sustainable villages in Darfur, Sudan. Noticing materials available in Sudan were mostly earth, the team contacted architect Nader Khalili of the California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture. Khalili had developed a technique mixing 90 percent earth with 10 percent cement to build incredibly strong domes.

Visiting Cal-Earth’s model village, the students learned the domes were earthquake resistant, fireproof, and extremely insulated.

Students decided to construct their own dome on campus, but by the end of a meeting with administrators, it was decided that they would build an entire village. Between classes students mix the cement and earth and fill bags to create layers that weigh up to two tons. One dome has been finished and three emergency shelters are underway. The village has been named “Fire in the hole,” symbolizing something big is about to happen.

Competing against SIFE teams from across the nation, these projects and the team’s original style of presentation earned them the 2007 “SIFE Team USA” National Championship. Members will be competing for the World Title next week in New York against 48 other nations.

Razzouk graduated from La Sierra in June but is now pursuing his master’s degree while working as the school’s assistant director of service learning. Razzouk continues to work with the SIFE team and will head to the World Competition.

“College is about finding out who you are and what you’re made of and, we want to keep inspiring people in that way,” Razzouk said.

His mother, Michelle, said even as a young child, John was always his own person. With determined spirit she always knew he would find success.

“His dad and I are so proud of him that he is doing something that is so meaningful and helping others,” Michelle said. “We are so thrilled that his heart is in the right place, helping and serving others.”